ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Illinois State achieved a thrilling victory over UAB, finishing the game with a close score of 84-83, thanks in part to Johnny Kinziger’s impressive performance. Kinziger tallied 21 points, which included two crucial free throws made in the final five seconds of the match.

Kinziger had an efficient shooting night, hitting 8 of 12 attempts from the field, and made 2 of 5 from beyond the arc. He also excelled at the line, going 3 for 3 in free throw attempts. In addition to Kinziger’s contributions, Chase Walker added 16 points to the scoreline, along with securing eight rebounds. Ty Pence also played a key role, finishing with 10 points from a shooting performance where he connected on 3 of 7 shots, including 1 for 4 on three-pointers, while maintaining perfect accuracy at the free-throw line.

For UAB, Alejandro led the team with 19 points, demonstrating his scoring prowess throughout the game. Additionally, Efrem Johnson contributed 18 points, and Yaxel Lendeborg rounded out the strong offensive effort with 14 points and seven assists. Both teams showcased their talents in this engaging matchup, but it was Illinois State that clinched the win with Kinziger’s late-game heroics.