Valparaiso Upsets Illinois State in College Basketball Matchup

Crusaders cover the spread in road victory over Redbirds

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Valparaiso Crusaders defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 76-68 in a college basketball matchup at the CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois. Valparaiso covered the 8.5-point spread as they extended their recent dominance over Illinois State, winning 9 of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

Why it matters

This victory continues Valparaiso's strong season and keeps them in the hunt for a postseason berth, while Illinois State's home loss is a setback in their quest to secure a higher seed in their conference tournament.

The details

Valparaiso was led by Owen Dease's 14 points and 3 rebounds, while JT Pettigrew added 11 points and 6 rebounds. Illinois State was paced by Chase Walker's 14 points and 6 rebounds, but the Redbirds struggled to contain Valparaiso's balanced scoring attack.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST.
  • Valparaiso has now won 5 of its last 7 games.
  • Illinois State had split its previous 8 games heading into this matchup.

The players

Owen Dease

A key scorer for the Valparaiso Crusaders, averaging 14.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.

JT Pettigrew

A versatile forward for Valparaiso, contributing 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.

Chase Walker

The leading scorer for the Illinois State Redbirds, averaging 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this would be a tough road game, but our guys really stepped up and executed our game plan to perfection.”

— Matt Lottich, Head Coach, Valparaiso Crusaders (Valparaiso Athletics)

“Credit to Valparaiso, they came in here and played a great game. We'll need to regroup and get ready for our next opponent.”

— Dan Muller, Head Coach, Illinois State Redbirds (Illinois State Athletics)

What’s next

Valparaiso will look to build on this victory as they face Indiana State in their next game, while Illinois State will aim to bounce back against UIC.

The takeaway

Valparaiso's consistent success against Illinois State, including covering the spread in this matchup, demonstrates the Crusaders' ability to compete with top teams in their conference and potentially earn a postseason tournament berth.