NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State secured a victory over Valparaiso with a final score of 86-78, thanks in large part to Chase Walker’s impressive performance, in which he scored 24 points on Saturday night.

Walker also played a key role in playmaking, providing seven assists for the Redbirds, who now hold a record of 14-9 and are 6-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Dalton Banks contributed significantly with 17 points, hitting 7 of his 9 attempts from the field, while Johnny Kinziger added 15 points on 5 of 10 shooting, including draining 3 out of 7 from beyond the arc.

On the other side, Valparaiso’s scoring was led by All Wright, who achieved 20 points in the game. His teammate, Cooper Schwieger, chipped in with 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Isaiah Shaw contributed with 10 points. Unfortunately for the Beacons, this defeat marks their seventh consecutive loss of the season, bringing their record to 10-13 overall and 3-9 in conference play.

Illinois State took control of the match with 3:54 left in the first half and maintained the lead for the remainder of the game. By halftime, they were ahead 45-38, with Walker gathering 16 of his points prior to the break. The Redbirds continued to hold a slim advantage in the second half, outscoring Valparaiso by a single point, with Banks shining as the standout in the latter period, scoring 13 points.