GAME NOTES: The Illinois State Redbirds play just their second game of the season on Friday, as they clash with the Weber State Wildcats in the Paradise Jam.

The Redbirds are going up against another team from the Beehive State in as many games, having lost to Utah State on Sunday by a score of 60-55.

The Wildcats also battled Utah State in their 2014-15 opener, falling to the Aggies by a score of 72-61 last Friday in Logan. More recently, Weber State picked up its first win of the campaign by dominating Presentation College on Monday, 74-49.

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday, taking on either LSU of Old Dominion based on the outcomes on Friday.

The Redbirds won the only previous meeting between the teams by a score of 74-70 at home back in 2001.

At home in Redbird Arena, Illinois State went from shooting only 37.9 percent from the field in the first half to a mere 28.9 percent after intermission. Even more troubling was the team's lackluster effort behind the 3-point line where they were a mere 2-of-15. The Redbirds also had their issues at the free-throw line coming out of the gate, converting just 9-of-20, which could easily be blamed for the five-point home loss.

Daishon Knight led the Redbirds with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor, while reserve DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell generated a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, but he shot only 5-of-14 from the floor and missed all four of his attempts out on the perimeter. Clearly, Akoon- Purcell would be better served if he remained in the paint where he proved that he could be an enforcer.

After losing the season opener to USU, the Wildcats bounced back a few days later with an impressive effort against Presentation College. The overmatched visitors were held to just eight field goals in the first half an 29.2 percent shooting from the floor overall, yet the team actually shot better from 3- point range (.313).

Joel Bolomboy recorded a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds for Weber State, to go along with five blocked shots. The same went from Kyndahl Hill with 11 points and 10 boards, while Jeremy Senglin and Chris Golden accounted for 16 and 10 points, respectively.

Bolomboy is averaging a double-double through two games with 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per contest, his efforts on the glass helping the team to beat opponents by 10.0 rpg to this point. Senglin checks in with 15.0 ppg, although he is shooting just 39.1 percent from the floor and, like Bolomboy, already has 10 turnovers.

As long as Bolomboy dominates in the paint and refrains from losing control of the ball too much, the Wildcats should be in the running for another win on Friday.