By ISU Sports Information
NORFOLK, Va. – A Paris Lee 3-pointer gave Illinois State the lead with 35 seconds remaining; however, Jonathan Arledge’s layup at the 19-second mark proved to be the difference, as Old Dominion edged ISU, 50-49, in the NIT second round Monday night at Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Illinois State ended the 2014-15 season with a 22-13 record, while ODU (26-7) extended its home-court winning streak to 23-straight victories. Senior guard Daishon Knight led ISU in his final game as a Redbird with 14 points, while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell contributed 13 points and eight rebounds.
Knight finished his two-year career at ISU with 951 points. Seniors John Jones and Bobby Hunter also made their final Redbird appearances Monday night. As a team, Illinois State shot 38.8 percent from the field compared to Old Dominion’s 36.4 percent mark, and ODU held the rebounding advantage, 40-34.
ISU matched a season low at the free throw line, shooting 7-for-16 (43.8 percent), and Old Dominion was 5-for-11 (45.5 percent) at the charity stripe. The Monarchs were led by Keenan Palmore’s 11 points and nine rebounds.
Old Dominion jumped out to a 9-2 lead early, with three 3-pointers during the opening stretch, including two by Aaron Bacote. ISU pulled within 9-7 on a jumper by Knight, but ODU manufactured a 10-2 run to take a 19-9 advantage at the 9:41 mark.
The Redbirds answered, scoring eight-straight while holding ODU scoreless for five minutes, trimming the lead to 22-19. A MiKyle McIntosh tip-in at the buzzer made the halftime score, 27-22, in favor of the Monarchs.
Akoon-Purcell hit two 3-pointers to start the second half, establishing ISU’s first lead of the game, 28-27, with 18:04 remaining. A 7-0 ODU run allowed the Monarchs to regain the advantage, 34-28, at the 14:46 mark. ISU responded with a 6-0 run, pulling within 34-32. However, Old Dominion outscored ISU, 10-2, and took a 44-36 advantage on a Richard Ross free throw with 8:47 to play.
Once again, Illinois State answered, scoring six-straight points and pulling within 44-42 on an Akoon-Purcell layup at the 5:53 mark, and Jones and Knight each made a field goal in the final four minutes to keep the Redbirds within striking distance. After ODU’s Javonte Douglas dunked to give the Monarchs a 48-46 lead with 49 seconds remaining, Lee buried a 3-pointer, lifting ISU ahead, 49-48, at the 35-second mark.
With 19 seconds to play, Arledge recorded a layup, and ODU took a permanent 50-49 lead. McIntosh was fouled at the 4-second mark, but missed both attempts. Old Dominion’s Ambrose Mosley also missed his two attempts after the Redbirds were forced to foul. With two seconds remaining, Justin McCloud’s pass from the Monarch baseline was intercepted, and ODU held off Illinois State.
The Redbirds finished the year winning seven of their last nine games, and ISU’s 22 victories marked the team’s most wins since also earning 22 in 2009-10.
