Redbirds Run Past DePaul in Final Minutes
for 78-72 Road Victory
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[December 15, 2014]
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Illinois State
outscored DePaul, 18-6, over the final 3:25 to come from behind and beat
the Blue Demons on the road, 78-72, Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena.
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The Redbirds (5-3) have now won a series-best three-straight
games against BIG EAST foe DePaul (6-3), including two victories
versus the Blue Demons in the last two years. ISU has also earned
two-straight road wins ahead of Wednesday’s home contest against UT
Martin.
With ISU trailing 66-60 at the 3:25 mark Sunday afternoon, the
Redbirds proceeded to force five turnovers while holding DePaul to
two field goals. Illinois State turned its defense into offense,
gaining the lead which it never relinquished with 58 seconds
remaining on a four-point play by Paris Lee. The Redbirds trailed by
as many as nine points at the 8:16 mark in the second half.
Daishon Knight led all scorers with 25 points, one shy of matching a
career high. Reggie Lynch recorded his first-career double-double by
collecting a career-high 13 rebounds plus 13 points, two blocks and
three steals. MiKyle McIntosh rounded out three Redbirds in
double-figures with 14 points and seven rebounds.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Dec/15/images/ads/current/gives_you_more_bch_040314.png) Illinois State still has not been outrebounded this season, as the
Redbirds outrebounded the Blue Demons, 43-38. ISU shot 38.8 percent
from the field, while DePaul shot 47.3 percent.
After DePaul took a 7-3 lead to start the game, Illinois State
narrowed the margin to 10-9. A 6-0 Redbird run later in the half
pushed Illinois State ahead, 15-14 on a fastbreak layup by Knight.
The Blue Demons then opened up a 23-15 advantage, but ISU answered
with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 23-20 on a 3-pointer by Deontae
Hawkins.
A 9-2 Redbird run lifted ISU ahead, 29-28, on a Knight layup with
1:19 remaining. After DePaul regained a one-point lead, Justin
McCloud buried a 3-pointer despite being fouled in the final seconds
of the first half, and he converted the four-point play to give
Illinois State a 33-30 halftime advantage. The Redbirds were led by
Knight’s nine first-half points.
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A 13-2 run by the Blue Demons early in the second half allowed
DePaul to take a 45-39 lead. ISU then pulled within 47-45 thanks to
a 5-0 run capped by a Tony Wills layup. The Blue Demons responded
with a 9-2 run to take a 58-49 advantage – marking their largest
lead of the game – with 8:16 remaining. A 7-2 Redbird run pulled ISU
within 61-58 on a Knight layup. DePaul went on to build a
seven-point lead at the 5:14 mark.
Illinois State then outscored DePaul, 18-6, during the final 3:25 to
earn the come-from-behind victory. Lee and Knight combined for a
4-for-4 effort at the free throw line in the final nine seconds to
secure ISU’s win.
The Redbirds return to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Wednesday
for a 7 p.m. tipoff against UT Martin. Tickets are available by
visiting or calling the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309)
438-8000, or by purchasing them on GoRedbirds.com.
[John Twork, Illinois State
University]
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source
for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund
gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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