Redbirds fall short at Southern Illinois

Posted on February 8, 2015

Reggie Lynch netted a career-high 18 points with eight rebounds and four blocks for Illinois State (Photo courtesy of GoRedbirds.com)

By WJBC staff

CARBONDALE, Ill.  – Illinois State surmounted an 18-point first-half deficit to briefly take a second-half lead; however, Southern Illinois held on for a 65-59 Missouri Valley Conference victory over the Redbirds Saturday afternoon at SIU Arena.

Trailing, 32-14, at the 6:28 mark in the first half, ISU (15-9, 7-5 MVC) pulled within 34-28 at halftime before taking a two-point advantage with 1:49 remaining in Saturday’s game. The Salukis (10-14, 3-9 MVC) outscored the Redbirds, 10-2, over the final 109 seconds to hold off ISU.

Reggie Lynch netted a career-high 18 points with eight rebounds and four blocks for Illinois State, while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scored a team-best 19 points. Anthony Beane led Southern Illinois with 23 points and four rebounds. The Redbirds shot 37.0 percent from the field compared to SIU’s 40.0 percent effort. ISU outrebound Southern Illinois, 37-34.

SIU built a 16-9 lead early, including nine points by Beane during the first eight minutes. Paris Lee stopped a 9-2 Southern Illinois run with a 3-pointer at the 10:55 mark. However, the Salukis responded with another 16-2 scoring stretch, establishing an 18-point advantage with 6:28 remaining in the first half.

The Redbirds answered with a 12-0 run, including four points by Lynch, to pull within 32-26 on a Daishon Knight 3-pointer at the 2:30 mark. Illinois State outscored Southern Illinois, 14-2, over the final 6:28 of the half to trail, 34-28, at halftime.

After Southern Illinois reestablished a double-digit lead early in the second half, a Deontae Hawkins 3-pointer pulled ISU within 40-33 at the 17:18 mark. An 8-2 SIU run from 15:45 until 9:12 increased the Saluki advantage to 48-36. The Redbirds cut their deficit to 51-42 with 6:28 remaining on four unanswered points.

Three-straight 3-pointers by Akoon-Purcell pulled ISU to within 54-51.  A Lynch block followed by an Akoon-Purcell layup trimmed SIU’s lead to 54-53 with 3:50 left. After Beane made one free throw, Lynch tied the game with a layup, and the Redbirds took a 57-55 advantage on a pair of Knight free throws at the 1:49 mark.

The Redbirds held Southern Illinois without a field goal from 9:12 until 1:49; however, a layup by Beane sparked a 10-2 SIU run over the final 1:49, and the Salukis held off Illinois State.

ISU continues its road trip by traveling to Cedar Falls, Iowa to play nationally-ranked Northern Iowa this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a game that can be seen live on ESPN3.

PODCASTS

Dan Muller podcast: http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=3970693

Akoon-Purcell podcast:http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=3970713

 

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…