Redbirds Advance to Championship Game after Beating Old Dominion

[November 25, 2014]  ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands – Four Redbirds recorded double-figures as Illinois State established an early lead which it never relinquished en route to a 64-45 semifinal win over Old Dominion at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam Friday night.

ISU (2-1) advanced to face BIG EAST foe Seton Hall Monday at 8 p.m. CT in the Paradise Jam championship game, televised live on CBS Sports Network. Seton Hall (3-0) earned a spot in the title game by topping Gardner-Webb Friday.

The Redbirds shot a season-best 49 percent from the field compared to Old Dominion’s 34 percent effort. ISU also outrebounded the Monarch’s 35-to-26. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and Bobby Hunter each scored 12 points, while Deontae Hawkins and Reggie Lynch contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Illinois State held the Monarchs scoreless until 16:26 in the first half, as the Redbirds turned defense into offense with a 9-0 run to start the game. The opening scoring-stretch included a Hawkins 3-pointer and was capped by a Lynch two-handed dunk. After ODU scored its first field goal, Hunter answered with a 3-pointer to lift ISU ahead, 12-2.

With a double-digit lead, ISU continued to make defensive stops. Lynch’s block of Richard Ross’ shot at the 11:44 mark was his 100th career-block, and Lynch became just the eighth Redbird player to record 100 or more blocks. The Redbirds extended their advantage to 22-6 on Will Ransom’s first-career field goal, assisted by Knight, with 8:35 left in the first half.

A 12-3 run by Old Dominion from 4:30 until 1:09 pulled the Monarchs within 29-24. However, that was as close at ODU got, as the Redbirds responded with the final two field goals of the half by Hunter and Akoon-Purcell to give Illinois State a 33-24 halftime advantage. Hawkins led ISU with eight first-half points, and the Redbirds shot 43.8 percent from the field.

ISU started the second half on an 11-4 run to build a 46-28 lead, with six points from Akoon-Purcell during the opening stretch. A few minutes later, after ODU pulled within 51-40, Knight answered with a 3-pointer to regain a 54-40 lead. The Redbirds went on to establish a 64-44 advantage – their largest of the game – with 1:05 remaining, and ISU shot 57.9 percent in the second half.

Justin McCloud and Mark Hall both made their collegiate debuts in the winning effort by entering the game at the 2:03 mark.

ISU now faces Seton Hall for the first time in program history Monday at 8 p.m. CT – televised live on CBS Sports Network – for the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam title. The Redbirds are aiming for their first regular-season tournament championship since 2010-11 and their first title outside of the continental U.S. since winning the Hawaii Pacific Shootout during the 1998-99 season.

[John Twork, Illinois State University]