Saint Mary’s Overcomes Illinois State in Overtime Thriller to Open Mickey McConnell Era
Mickey McConnell Era Opens With Overtime Thriller Victory Over Illinois State
The Mickey McConnell era for Saint Mary’s men’s basketball began on Monday night with a hardfought 90–85 overtime victory against the Illinois State Redbirds at UCU Pavilion. Rebounding from a double-digit deficit in the second half, the Gaels outscored Illinois State 42–27 down the stretch to pull off the season-opening triumph.
Mantas Juzenas earned his first collegiate double-double, dropping a team-high 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Big men Thomas Ndong and Vangelis Zougris anchored the frontcourt with high-efficiency scoring. Ndong contributed 18 points on 7–9 shooting, while Zougris added 16 points on a perfect 7–7 field goal clip. True freshman Darius Bivins chipped in 11 points, three assists, and three steals in his collegiate debut.
How the Gaels Chipped Away at a Ten-Point Deficit
Illinois State held the lead for 26 minutes, utilizing a hot-shooting first half to build a 39–33 halftime advantage. Johnny Kinziger led the Redbirds with a game-high 30 points, including 14 in the second half, while Malik Messina-Moore added 16 points and four assists. Messina-Moore was no stranger to the Gaels, having played against them during his time at Xavier. The Redbirds stretched their lead to 58–48 with 12:34 remaining in regulation.
Saint Mary’s responded by tightening its defense and dominating inside, generating 54 points in the paint compared to Illinois State’s production. A late 9–0 run, punctuated by a Jeremy Dent-Smith steal and score, gave the Gaels their first lead of the second half at 73–72 with five minutes remaining. After Kinziger hit a late three-pointer to put the Redbirds ahead, Thomas Ndong secured an offensive rebound and scored a putback layup with 20 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 77 and force overtime.
Darius Bivins Seals Overtime Victory for Mickey McConnell
In the extra five minutes, Saint Mary’s capitalized on Illinois State foul trouble and turnovers. Chase Walker fouled out for the Redbirds after recording eight points and four rebounds in nine limited first-half and extended minutes. True freshman Darius Bivins sealed the outcome by picking the pocket of Demarion Burch and converting a layup with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to push the lead to five points.
The victory handed Mickey McConnell his first win as head coach, making him the first Saint Mary’s men’s basketball coach to win his debut since Dave Bollwinkel in 1997. The win extended the program’s streak to six straight season-opening victories and 27 home wins. It also marked the first all-time victory for Saint Mary’s against Illinois State, following losses in 1993 and 1994 matchups. Displaying all-around skill across the court, Mantas Juzenas recorded his debut collegiate double-double with a team-high 20 points alongside a squad-best 11 boards, becoming the initial Gael to launch a campaign with a double-double since Luke Barrett and Paulius Murauskas did so in 2024.
What Lies Ahead for Both Programs
Illinois State travels back home for a matchup against Central State at CEFCU Arena.