NORMAL, Ill. — In an exciting matchup on Sunday night, Illinois State emerged victorious against Saint Louis, securing an 81-77 win with a standout performance by Chase Walker, who tallied 27 points.

Walker also contributed significantly on the boards, grabbing eight rebounds, which played a critical role in the Redbirds’ success. Another key player for Illinois State, Johnny Kinziger, added 20 points and six rebounds. Dalton Banks, while slightly underperforming from the three-point line, still managed to score eight points and recorded three blocks.

For the Billikens, Robbie Avila was a dominant force, scoring 28 points in the contest. Following closely, Isaiah Swope impressed with 22 points to go along with four assists and two steals. Gibson Jimerson contributed solidly as well, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to claim the win.

Illinois State took a comfortable lead into halftime with a score of 43-31, mostly due to Walker’s impressive 14 points in the first half. Although the Redbirds faced a stronger push from Saint Louis after the break, where they were outscored by eight points, Walker’s 13 points in the second half helped maintain their lead and ultimately secure the victory for Illinois State.