Redbirds Fall Short Against Bradley, Look Ahead to Northern Iowa

Illinois State rallies from 18-point deficit but can't complete comeback in 74-60 loss

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Illinois State Redbirds fought back from an 18-point second-half deficit, narrowing the gap to just three points, but ultimately fell to Bradley 74-60 on Saturday night. The Redbirds started strong, leading early, but Bradley responded with a big run to take a 12-point halftime advantage. Illinois State mounted a furious comeback in the second half, cutting the deficit to just three points, but couldn't complete the rally as Bradley held on for the win.

Why it matters

The loss is a setback for the Redbirds, who were looking to build momentum heading into their matchup against Northern Iowa. While the team showed resilience in fighting back, their inability to fully overcome the large deficit highlights areas they'll need to improve on to compete with top conference opponents.

The details

The Redbirds jumped out to a 7-5 lead early, but Bradley responded with seven straight points to take a 12-7 advantage. Bradley extended its lead to as many as 15 points before halftime, leading 43-31 at the break. The visitors pushed their advantage to 18 points in the second half, but Illinois State mounted a 14-0 run to cut the deficit to just seven. A three-pointer by Jack Daugherty brought the Redbirds within three, but they couldn't complete the comeback.

  • The Redbirds scored the first six points of the game.
  • Bradley led 43-31 at halftime.
  • Bradley extended its lead to 18 points with 10:58 remaining in the second half.
  • Illinois State went on a 14-0 run to cut the deficit to seven points.
  • Jack Daugherty hit a three-pointer to bring the Redbirds within three points.

The players

Mason Klabo

A member of the Redbirds' starting lineup.

Landon Wolf

Led the Redbirds in scoring with 12 points, reaching double-digits for the sixth time in his last seven games.

Johnny Kinziger

Dished out five assists, marking his 17th game this season with 3 or more assists.

Brandon Lieb

Scored the first points of the game for the Redbirds with a dunk, the third consecutive game he's opened the scoring.

Boden Skunberg

A member of the Redbirds' starting lineup.

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What’s next

The Redbirds will look to bounce back when they travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa to face the Northern Iowa Panthers on February 25th at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU and available on WJBC AM 1230 / 98.9 FM WJEZ / The Varsity Network.

The takeaway

While the Redbirds showed fight in cutting a large deficit, their inability to complete the comeback highlights areas they'll need to improve on to compete with top conference opponents. As they prepare to face Northern Iowa, the team will need to focus on closing out games and maintaining their intensity for the full 40 minutes.