ILLINOIS STATE VS UAB

PHOTO BY: @billkiser / @vidaily.news

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas – Johnny Kinziger scored a game-high 21 points - none more important than his game-winning free throws with five seconds remaining - to lead the Illinois State Redbirds (4-2) to an 84-83 win over UAB (3-4) in a thrilling opening contest on day two of the 2024 Paradise Jam.

With the win, Illinois State advances to play against the winner of the Louisiana/George Washington matchup in the 4th/6th place game on Monday, November 25 at 4 p.m., while UAB will face off against the losing team in the same contest in the 7th/8th place game at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

UAB jumped out to an eight-point lead (23-15) midway through the first half, but the Redbirds rallied and pushed ahead by six points (32-26) just four minutes later. Momentum swung back UAB’s way late in the half as the Blazers went ahead by seven (43-36) in the final minute of the half, and an Illinois State 3-pointer cut the lead to four (43-39) at the break.

The Blazers held the lead through the first several minutes of the second half, with Illinois State jumping ahead at the 13:43 mark, setting off a series of lead changes that carried through to the final minute of the game.

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