Valparaiso Beacons Triumph Over Illinois State Redbirds
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Athletics-Recreation Center
Valparaiso Beacons 77, Illinois State Redbirds 71, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Illinois State Redbirds vs Valparaiso Beacons?
Valparaiso Beacons beat Illinois State Redbirds 77-71 at Athletics-Recreation Center on January 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Illinois State Redbirds vs Valparaiso Beacons?
Illinois State Redbirds were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -310 (about 76% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup, the Valparaiso Beacons secured a 77-71 victory against the Illinois State Redbirds at the Athletics-Recreation Center. This win marked a significant achievement for the Beacons, especially considering their recent struggles, as they had only won three of their last ten games prior to this contest. With this victory, Valparaiso improved their home record to 4-3, while Illinois State, despite their strong season so far, fell to 12-5 overall.
Valparaiso's recent form had been inconsistent, with a record of 3-7 in their last ten games, but they entered this game on a positive note, having won their last match against the UIC Flames with a score of 66-59. Their scoring average was 71.3 points per game, while they allowed an average of 68.8 points during this stretch. The Beacons had struggled away from home, going 0-4 in their last four road games. In contrast, the Redbirds had been on a roll, boasting a record of 9-1 in their last ten games, including a four-game winning streak leading into this matchup. Illinois State averaged 81.3 points scored while allowing only 62.6 points in their recent games.
The game was closely contested throughout, but Valparaiso managed to pull away in the second half, with key plays from Owen Dease, who made several crucial baskets down the stretch. The Beacons' ability to capitalize on free throws also played a significant role in their victory, as they converted several in the final moments of the game. The scoring plays included Dease making a layup and a dunk, along with free throws from both Dease and Justus McNair, which helped solidify their lead.
Illinois State had previously faced Valparaiso earlier in the season on February 1, 2025, where they defeated the Beacons 86-78. This time, however, Valparaiso turned the tables, showcasing their determination to overcome past defeats. The Redbirds had come into this game with high expectations given their strong away record of 2-1, but they were unable to maintain their momentum against the Beacons.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but both teams were looking to field their best rosters. The market had set the odds with Illinois State favored by 6.5 points, according to DraftKings, indicating that they were expected to perform well. The total points line was set at 138.5, reflecting the anticipated scoring capabilities of both teams.
The conditions for the game were favorable, with the Athletics-Recreation Center providing a solid home-court advantage for Valparaiso. Fans were treated to a competitive atmosphere, which likely contributed to the Beacons' performance.
As the game concluded, Valparaiso's victory not only boosted their confidence but also highlighted their potential to compete effectively in the league. The Beacons will look to build on this momentum, while Illinois State will need to regroup after this setback as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ILST -6.5 | 138.5 o -112 / u -108 | Illinois State Redbirds -310 · Valparaiso Beacons +250 |
Leaders
- PointsOwen Dease28Valparaiso Beacons
- AssistsMark Brown Jr.3Valparaiso Beacons
- ReboundsOwen Dease6Valparaiso Beacons
- PointsChase Walker20Illinois State Redbirds
- AssistsJohnny Kinziger3Illinois State Redbirds
- ReboundsLandon Wolf7Illinois State Redbirds
Recent form
Valparaiso Beacons
Last 10: 3-7Streak W171.3 scored · 68.8 allowed per game3-3 at home
- W66-59vs UIC FlamesJan 4
- L70-75at Southern Illinois SalukisJan 1
- L48-58at Northern Iowa PanthersDec 30
- L79-85vs Murray State RacersDec 21
- L70-86at Northwestern WildcatsDec 17
- L70-73vs UNC Wilmington SeahawksDec 13
- W98-58vs Calumet St. Joseph Crimson WaveDec 6
- L72-75at Marquette Golden EaglesDec 3
- W84-55vs Western Michigan BroncosNov 29
- L56-64vs Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesNov 26
Illinois State Redbirds
Last 10: 9-1Streak W481.3 scored · 62.6 allowed per game2-1 away
- W73-47vs Evansville Purple AcesJan 1
- W73-56at Drake BulldogsDec 30
- W85-65vs Indiana State SycamoresDec 21
- W75-68at Southern Illinois SalukisDec 19
- L78-83at Utah State AggiesDec 13
- W95-53vs Chicago State CougarsDec 7
- W89-78vs Eastern Kentucky ColonelsDec 4
- W72-65vs Furman PaladinsNov 28
- W79-69vs Charlotte 49ersNov 27
- W94-42vs Coastal Carolina ChanticleersNov 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Illinois State Redbirds | Valparaiso Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-62 | 21-41 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 5-16 | 9-12 |
| Three-point % | 31 | 75 |
| Free throws | 14-23 | 26-35 |
| Free throw % | 61 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17 | 4 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 24 |
| Assists | 8 | 12 |
| Steals | 5 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 20 |
| Fouls | 26 | 23 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 15 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 3 | 76 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half43-48Ty'Reek Coleman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-48Ty'Reek Coleman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-48Chase Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half48-48Ty'Reek Coleman makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-49Brody Whitaker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-50Brody Whitaker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-50Chase Walker makes driving layup
- 2nd Half50-53Brody Whitaker makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mark Brown Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half52-53Chase Walker makes 1-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half52-54JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-54Chase Walker makes layup
- 2nd Half54-55JT Pettigrew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-56JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-56Brandon Lieb makes layup
- 2nd Half58-56Johnny Kinziger makes layup
- 2nd Half58-57Owen Dease makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-58Owen Dease makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-59Owen Dease makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-60Owen Dease makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-60Ty Pence makes layup (Ty'Reek Coleman assists)
- 2nd Half60-61JT Pettigrew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-62Ty'Reek Coleman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-63JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-63Ty'Reek Coleman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-63Ty'Reek Coleman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-65Owen Dease makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-68Rakim Chaney makes 31-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half65-68Johnny Kinziger makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-68Johnny Kinziger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-68Johnny Kinziger makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half68-70Rakim Chaney makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half69-70Chase Walker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-72Owen Dease makes layup
- 2nd Half69-74Owen Dease makes 4-foot dunk (Brody Whitaker assists)
- 2nd Half69-75Owen Dease makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half70-75Johnny Kinziger makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-75Johnny Kinziger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-76Justus McNair makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-77Justus McNair makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Valparaiso Beacons, below favours Illinois State Redbirds.
Venue
- Athletics-Recreation CenterValparaiso, IN
- Attendance1444
- OfficialsMichael Greenstein, Roland Simmons, Keith Patterson
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