Redbirds Run Past DePaul in Final Minutes for 78-72 Road Victory

[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.

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.

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.

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 [phone], or by purchasing them on GoRedbirds.com.

[John Twork, Illinois State University]

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