November 29, 2014
Redbirds Hold Off Penguins for Overtime Victory

[December 02, 2014]  NORMAL - The Illinois State basketball team needed overtime, but defeated Youngstown State 85-73 to move to 3-2 on the season. It’s the first overtime victory of the season for the Redbirds.

Behind a balanced offensive attack that featured four players in double figures, ISU’s offense proved to be too much in the end. ISU held a slight advantage in field goal percentage and three point percentage, but the key to the game came at the line where the Redbirds made 27 of 38 free throws. Youngstown State shot just 14 and made 12.

Bobby Hunter led the Redbirds with 20 points on 7-9 shooting, including 4-6 from three. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and Deonte Hawkins both netted 18 points. Hawkins led all players with 15 rebounds and recorded the first double-double of his young collegiate career.

Hunter, a redshirt senior, finished in double figures for the third-straight game and is now averaging 12.4 points per game. Hawkins, a true freshman, has now scored in double figures two of the last three games.

Reggie Lynch recorded a career-high seven blocks and took sole possession of no. 7 on the ISU career blocks list, passing former Redbird Jeff Wilkins with 109 blocks. Lynch is the first Redbird to block at least seven shots in a game since Greg Dilligard at Loyola on December 18, 2004, tying him for fourth on the ISU single-game blocked shots list.

Lynch added 10 points and four rebounds in 26 minutes of play before fouling out for the first time this season.

The Redbirds received more than enough help from their bench as the reserves scored 34 points compared to Youngstown State’s seven. ISU also outscored YSU in the paint 32-22 and second chance points 19-2.

The Redbirds also dominated Youngstown State on the glass, grabbing 50 boards compared to the Penguins’ 29. ISU has outrebounded all five of its opponents this season.

In the first half the Redbirds turned it over more than their total field goals made, but managed to go to the locker room leading 32-24. ISU trailed for just 21 seconds in the first half and it was defense and rebounding that made life difficult for YSU.

Youngstown State shot just 29 percent (9-31) and ISU won the first half rebounding battle 26-13. The Redbirds, for all of their turnover issues, forced Youngstown State into seven of their own and translated those into eight points.

The game was tied eight times and the lead changed eight times as well.

ISU will now prepare for its biggest nonconference matchup of the season, a date with No. 14 VCU at Redbird Arena on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

[Zachary Wadley, Illinois State University]

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