ATHENS, Ohio – Playing in its 2025-26 season-opener, the Illinois State Redbirds saw three players reach double-figures in the scoring column but could not overcome a strong shooting night from the Ohio Bobcats, falling 72-68 in southeast Ohio.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bobcats scored the first six points of the game, jumping out to an early lead, and Ohio never trailed, as the hosts' advantage reached its zenith at 11 with 11:31 to play in the half (18-7). The Redbirds raced off runs of 6-0 and 7-0 to get within two points, eventually tying the game at 29 and the teams went into the locker room knotted at 31.

A Boden Skunberg three-pointer 30 seconds into the second half gave ISU its first lead of the game, and the Birds jumped out quickly out of the second-half gate, using a 10-2 run to stretch its lead to eight at 41-33, two and a half minutes into the second period. The Bobcats clawed back to re-take the lead with 11:03 remaining in the contest, the middle of a 13-0 Ohio run that saw the hosts extend the lead to as many as six. The Redbirds fought back to climb to within as few as three but could not re-take their early second-half lead in the road loss.

KEY STATISTICS

• The Redbirds opened with the starting lineup of #0 Jack Daugherty, #11 Johnny Kinziger, #14 Boden Skunberg, #22 Ty Pence, and #35 Chase Walker
• ISU debuted its red throwback uniforms
• Illinois State won the opening tip
• ISU's first points of the season came from Chase Walker on a free throw with 16:29 to play in the game
• The teams first basket came from Johnny Kinziger on an assist from Chase Walker
• Illinois State's first sub was Brandon Lieb with 16:29 to play in the first half
• Four players made their Redbird debut: Skunberg, Landon Moore, Ty'Reek Coleman, and Mason Klabo
• The teams were tied at 31 after the first 20 minutes
  • The game is just the fifth time under Ryan Pedon's tenure as head coach that the Redbirds were tied with their opponent at halftime
• ISU was successful in its first Coaches Challenge (4:46 to play in the second half)
• Skunberg reached double-figures in his Redbird debut, ending with 15 points
  • Skunberg also tied for the team lead with seven rebounds
• Johnny Kinziger scored in double-figures for the 43rd time in his career with 15 points
  • Tied for the team lead – along with Chase Walker – with three assists
• Ty Pence reached double-figures in the scoring column with 14 points
  • It was his fourth consecutive game with double-figure scoring dating back to last season
  • Pence tied for the team-lead with seven rebounds
• Brandon Lieb scored six points with five rebounds and a game-high two blocked shots
• Klabo and Coleman each scored their first collegiate points in the game
• The Redbirds made just 27-of-62 shots in the game (43.5 percent), and was 8-of-26 (30.8 percent) from beyond the arc

NEXT UP

ISU travels back to Normal for its 2025-26 home opener, as the team hosts the Cornell Big Red on Sunday, November 9 in a 1 p.m. tip-off inside CEFCU Arena.