McIntosh Leads ISU to 78-74 Win at UAB

[December 08, 2014]  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Illinois State freshman MiKyle McIntosh scored a career-best 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, and the ISU men’s basketball team held off UAB, 78-74, Sunday afternoon at Bartow Arena.

The Redbirds (4-3) shot 54.4 percent from the field, while the Blazers (3-6) shot 50.9 percent. McIntosh, Daishon Knight and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell each reached double-figures, as the Redbirds never trailed en route to a victory in their first true road game of the season.

Illinois State built a seven-point advantage in the first five minutes, as Akoon-Purcell netted five quick points. A 10-2 run, including back-to-back dunks by Deontae Hawkins and Akoon-Purcell lifted the Redbirds in front, 22-9, at the 11:15 mark. UAB responded with a 10-0 run to pull within 22-19 on a 3-pointer by Robert Brown with 7:06 left in the first half.

Justin McCloud hit a 3-pointer to break ISU’s scoring drought at the 6:31 mark, and McIntosh banked in a jumper as ISU netted five-straight. The teams proceeded to exchange baskets, and the Redbirds held on for a 36-30 halftime advantage. Knight led Illinois State with 10 first-half points as the Redbirds shot 51.7 percent from the field and UAB shot 50.0 percent in the opening period.

After UAB scored the first basket of the second half, ISU went on a 6-2 run to take a 42-34 lead. The Blazers answered with a 7-2 run to narrow the Redbirds’ lead to 44-41 at the 15:52 mark. A fastbreak layup by Hakeem Baxter pulled UAB within 44-46 with 14:40 remaining. Five-straight points by McIntosh gave ISU a 51-45 advantage.

A 6-0 UAB run tied the game, 51-51, with 12:24 remaining. McIntosh answered with four-straight points to push ISU back in front, 55-51. In total, McIntosh scored 13-consecutive points. Two McIntosh free throws, a McCloud 3-pointer followed by a Reggie Lynch layup lifted ISU ahead, 64-56.

The Blazers cut Illinois State’s lead to 70-68 at the 3:47 mark with a 7-2 run. Back-to-back baskets by Akoon-Purcell and Knight increased ISU’s advantage to 74-68 with 2:22 remaining. UAB pulled within 74-73, and had the ball with less than a minute to play. However, the Redbirds held the Blazers without a field goal, and Tony Wills went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final six seconds, as ISU held on for the 78-74 victory.

After returning to Normal, Illinois, for ISU’s final exams week, the Redbird will travel to DePaul Sunday, Dec. 14 for a 3 p.m. CT tipoff in a game televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.

[John Twork, Illinois State University]

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