Redbirds Run Away From The Salukis In
Second Half, Win 73-56
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[February 26, 2015]
NORMAL - The first half between
Illinois State and Southern Illinois featured nine lead changes and
ended in a 36-36 tie, however the second half belonged to DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell
and the Redbirds (18-11, 10-7 MVC), who pulled away early and never
looked back in a 73-56 defeat of the Salukis (10-20, 3-14 MVC) Wednesday
night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
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ISU picked up its 10th conference win of the season, marking the
most wins for the Redbirds in Valley play since the 2009-10 season.
Akoon-Purcell scored four of his 12 second-half points in the first
30 seconds of the stanza and finished with a career-best 24 points,
thanks to a 4-for-7 effort from long distance for the Redbirds. He
led a trio of Redbirds in double figures, as senior Daishon Knight
scored 11 points and MiKyle McIntosh finished with 10 points for the
Redbirds.
The two teams traded baskets and the lead four times over the first
five-plus minutes, with the Salukis jumping out to a three-point
lead at 13-10 at the first media time out. SIU maintained a
single-digit lead over the next seven minutes of play and the
Redbirds cut the deficit to one point at 23-22, after a
three-pointer by McIntosh, but Deng Leek threw down his
second-consecutive dunk to put the Salukis back up 26-22 with 7:32
left in the first half.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/26/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png) A three-pointer by Knight trimmed the Saluki lead back to one point
at 26-25 a minute later, which forced SIU head coach Barry Hinson to
call a time out with 6:32 left before halftime. The Redbirds then
took the lead for the first time since the 15:38 mark at 27-26 on a
pair of free throws by Akoon-Purcell, as he was fouled attempting a
fast break layup.
The Salukis took the lead right back on a three-pointer by Normal,
Illinois, native Anthony Beane at 29-27 with just over five minutes
left in the half. Knight later tied the game at 29-29 with a pair of
free throws with just over four minutes left in the game, before the
Salukis took a one-point lead a minute later. The teams traded the
lead four more times over the next three minutes, before a
three-pointer by Paris Lee from the corner put the Redbirds ahead at
36-34 with 42 seconds left in the half. Two free throws by Jordan
Caroline tied the game at 36-36 and the Redbirds could not convert
on the final possession of the game, as the two teams headed to the
locker room tied at the half.
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Illinois State came out of the locker room inspired, scoring the
first nine points of the half to take a 45-36 lead, before Beane
connected on a three-pointer to end the early scoring drought for
the Salukis and cut the ISU lead to 45-39. The ISU run was sparked
by Akoon-Purcell, who scored four quick points for the Redbirds to
start the streak. A three-pointer by Akoon-Purcell later gave the
Redbirds a nine-point lead at 50-41 seven minutes into the second
half of play.
A jumper by Lee a minute later extended the ISU lead to 14 points at
55-41 and the Redbirds maintained a double-digit lead, until Beane
scored four-straight points for the Salukis to cut the deficit to
eight points at 59-51 with seven minutes left in the game. A pair of
three-pointers by Justin McCloud capped off a quick 7-0 run for the
Redbirds soon after, and ISU widened the advantage to 66-51 with
5:15 left in the game.
Akoon-Purcell’s fourth three-point field goal of the contest gave
ISU its largest lead of the game at 19 points at 71-52 with just
under four minutes left in the contest. The Salukis were able to
trim the lead a bit, but ultimately suffered the double-digit
defeat. The Redbirds wrap up the regular season on the road Saturday
at Evansville. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be
broadcast live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Fox Sports Midwest and
ESPN Full Court as part of the MVC television package.
[Michael Williams, Illinois State
University]
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