NORMAL, Ill. — In an impressive display of skill, Johnny Kinziger led the Illinois State Redbirds with 17 points in their commanding 85-54 victory over Southern Illinois on Sunday night.

Kinziger showcased his shooting prowess, making 6 of 7 attempts from the field, including 3 of 4 from three-point range. Jack Daugherty matched Kinziger’s scoring output with 17 points as well, hitting 6 of 11 shots and nailing 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Jordan Davis contributed significantly with 13 points from 5 of 8 shooting, while also pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Salukis struggled to find their rhythm, with Davion Sykes leading their scoring with 11 points. Jarrett Hensley and Sheridan Sharp each chipped in 10 points for Southern Illinois, with Sharp also contributing two steals.

From the onset, Illinois State took control of the game, securing the lead just 52 seconds in and holding onto it through the final buzzer. Kinziger was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 15 points and helping the Redbirds build a substantial 44-23 lead at halftime. The team’s dominance continued into the second half, where they expanded their advantage to 65-34, courtesy of a decisive 12-3 run. Davis emerged as the top scorer for his team in the latter half, contributing 10 points as Illinois State cruised to victory.

Overall, the performance solidified Illinois State’s record at 10-5, with a conference standing of 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Southern Illinois fell to 5-10 and remained winless in conference play at 0-4.