By Austin Duncan
NORMAL, Ill- The Illinois State Redbirds men’s basketball team’s defense proved tough again, holding Southern Illinois to just 31 percent from the field en route to a 73-50 victory over the Saluki’s at Redbird Arena in front of a crowd of 6,052.
Southern Illinois collected the first basket of the game on a 3-pointer by Sean O’Brien to take an early lead.
Illinois State would pick up its defensive intensity holding SIU to zero field goals over eight minutes of play. While playing stout defense, the Redbirds rattled off 17 unanswered points.
The Redbirds run was halted by a jump shot from Normal Community graduate, Anthony Beane Jr, cutting the ISU lead to 17-5 with 11:50 to play in the first half.
Illinois State would finish the half allowing just 10 more points while collecting 19 more, leading 36-15 at the half.
Southern Illinois showed some life at the start of the second half, scoring four straight points. Illinois State stopped the Saluki streak by converting an and-one to put the Redbirds back up by 20.
Paris Lee proved to be an important part of the Redbirds success setting up back to back scores for the Redbirds. First, Lee found Nick Banyard for an alley-oop, then on the next possession he nailed a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired while being fouled, converting a four point play to give ISU a 47-26 lead with 13:27 to play.
Each senior, Devaughn Akoon-Purcell, Justin McCloud, and Quintin Brewer checked out of the game to a standing ovation, enabling ISU walk-on guard Javaka Thompson to score for the second consecutive home game. Thompson also picked up an assist on a dunk by Deontae Hawkins, giving Illinois State a 24 point lead.
The Redbirds were paced by Lee’s career-high 21 points. Devaughn Akoon-Purcell and Deontae Hawkins added 16 and 15, respectively. Hawkins, Akoon-Purcell, and Nick Banyard all collected seven rebounds. Seniors Justin McCloud added five points, and Quintin Brewer collected an assist and a rebound before fouling out.
Southern Illinois was paced by Sean O’Brien’s 14 points, while Armon Fletcher added 13. NCHS graduate Anthony Beane Jr. was held to just two points.
With the win, Illinois State cannot finish lower than third place in the Missouri Valley Conference with their 12-5 record. To finish in second place, the Redbirds would have to win its final game and Evansville would have to lose its final game.
Downing Southern Illinois means Illinois State has beaten every team in the MVC this season.
The Redbirds will return to action Saturday when it travels to Wichita State’s Charles Koch Arena for the final regular season game. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Redbird Preview will begin at noon.
Listen to postgame comments from head coach Dan Muller here.
Listen to postgame comments from Paris Lee here.
