DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Scoring 10 of the final 13 points, the Illinois State Redbirds advanced to the Championship Game of the College Basketball Invitational, topping the UIW Cardinals in a hard-fought 78-73 game on Tuesday evening.

Chase Walker scored a game-high 27 points, making 10-of-16 field goals while also pulling down eight rebounds, while Ty Pence recorded his first collegiate double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Johnny Kinziger scored 13 points for ISU, and the trio of sophomores had 55 of the team's 78 points in the win.

Dalton Banks dished out a game-high five assists, while adding to his steal total, as he now has 62 on the season, which puts him in sole possession of third place in school history in single-season steals. For the 26th time this season ISU had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (12 assists, 10 turnovers), and the team had an even rebounding margin with the Cardinals.

The Redbirds put a finish on the 2024-25 season on Wednesday evening, as the team faces off against the winner of Cleveland State and Florida Gulf Coast, who play immediately following the ISU game.

UIW struck first and led for the first nine-plus minutes of the game, with the Redbirds taking their first lead on a Walker free throw with 10:11 to play. UIW answered back with five straight points, and the Cardinals would keep their lead to the break, where ISU trailed 34-31.

The second half had eight tie scores and nine lead changes, with neither team leading by more than four through the half until ISU made two free throws with eight seconds left to give the game its final margin. Trailing by two with 1:24 to play in the game, Walker converted on a put-back and then a lay-in to put the Birds ahead for good. Two free throws each from Walker, Kinziger, and Banks iced the game for the Birds.

ISU converted on 24-of-55 shots from the field (43.6%), 5-of-17 (29.4%) from long range, and 25-of-33 (75.8%) from the charity stripe. UIW was held to sub-40 percent shooting at 39.7 (23-of-58), while making 3-of-15 (20.0%) from long range.

The Cardinals were led by Dylan Hayman who scored 24 points, while Jalin Anderson scored 16 and Jordan Pyke 13.

TEAM NOTES

• Illinois State used a starting lineup of 0 Jack Daugherty, 3 Dalton Banks, 5 Jordan Davis, 11 Johnny Kinziger, and 35 Chase Walker
  • This is the sixth time this season that ISU has used this starting lineup combination
• The Redbirds won the opening tip
• The first points of the game came from Chase Walker on a jumper with 18:52 to play in the first half
  • It was the 14th time he scored ISU's first points of the game this season
• The first subs for Illinois State were Caden Boser and Ty Pence with 15:19 to play in the first half
• UIW led 34-31 at the half

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Dalton Banks
  • Moved into sole possession of third place in single-season steals in school history with 62 on the season
• Johnny Kinziger
  • Scored in double-figures for the 29th time this season and 42nd time in his collegiate career
• Ty Pence
  • Recorded his first collegiate double-double with 15 points and a career-high 10 rebounds
  • Was 6-of-11 from the field, and made his only three-point attempt and his only two free throw tries
• Chase Walker
  • Scored in double-figures for the 25th time this season
  • Reached the 20-point plateau for his second straight game, and 11th time this season
  • His 27 points is tied for the second-highest scoring game of his career

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