Men’s Basketball: Red-White scrimmage gives fans first look at 24-25 squad

Scrimmage sets 40-minute stage for Redbirds

Fresh faces and familiar names see action in front of home crowd

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State men’s basketball team gave fans a glimpse of the 2024-25 squad in an intrasquad scrimmage Friday night inside CEFCU Arena. The Redbirds, who open the regular season next Monday at home against Illinois-Springfield, got a 40-minute look at the rotation and lineups they could use in the nonconference schedule.

Junior Darius Burford started at point guard with graduate transfer Malachi Poindexter and junior Luke Kasubke joining him in the backcourt. Senior Kendall Lewis started at center with sophomore Josiah Strong and graduate transfer Mohamed Thiam splitting time at the four. Redshirt freshman Trevian Bell got the start at the three.

Other returners who saw action included junior Liam McChesney, redshirt freshman Alex Pihlstrom and sophomore DJ Horne. Freshmen Adam Randall and Kyler Filewich also subbed in for the Redbirds.

The Redbirds, who led 20-18 at the half, showed off some new offensive wrinkles, including set plays for shooters in the corners and more motion. The ‘Birds also got to the free-throw line 30 times, hitting 23.

ISU finished 18-of-54 from the field (33.3 percent) and 4-of-17 from three-point range (23.5 percent). Poindexter led all scorers with 13 points while Kasubke and Thiam added 11 and 10, respectively.

The Redbirds open the regular season next Monday at home against Illinois-Springfield. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside CEFCU Arena.