Associated Press
WINSTON-SALEM — Ty Pence led Illinois State Redbirds with 23 points and Johnny Kinziger hit the winning 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left as the Redbirds knocked off Wake Forest Demon Deacons 78-75 on Sunday in the NIT.
Kinzinger, at the top of the key, worked around a screen by Chase Walker and a 3 from the left wing to cap the scoring.
Illinois State (22-12) plays at Dayton in the quarterfinals.
Tre’Von Spillers led the way for the Demon Deacons (18-17) with 24 points and eight rebounds. Juke Harris (Salisbury) added 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists for Wake Forest. Omaha Biliew finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
It may be Harris’ last game for the Demon Deacons, as quite a few analysts rate the 6-foot-7 sophomore wing as a first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Harris went into the game averaging 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Pence shot 8 of 11 from the field, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the free-throw line for the Redbirds. Kinziger finished with 19 points and five assists. Walker shot 5 of 11 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points.
Walker scored eight points in the first half for Illinois State, who went into halftime tied 32-32 with Wake Forest. Pence led Illinois State with 17 points in the second half.
—
