By Austin Duncan
Philadelphia, PA-The Saint Joseph’s Hawks made 15 three-pointers in its 79-65 win over Illinois State at Hagan Arena in Philadelphia.
The Hawks flew out of the gate, collecting a quick 5-0 lead over Illinois State. The Redbirds answered with a five point run with a three from sophomore forward Mikyle McIntosh and a jump hook from senior forward Quintin Brewer to tie the game.
Saint Joseph’s used an 11-2 run to gain the lead with a score of 18-9 with 13:11 to play in the half.
Illinois State would not shy away, as it went on a 9-0, capped by a steal and assist by McIntosh to sophomore forward Deontae Hawkins to cut the Hawks’ lead to 18-16 with 10:25 to play in the half.
The Hawks stopped the run with a James Demery three-pointer made to expand the Hawks lead to four.
The Redbirds answered on a make from freshman guard Roland Griffin, and took its first lead of the game on a Hawkins jump shot to make the score 22-21 at the 7:12 mark of the first half.
Saint Joseph’s offense caught fire again, capping an 11-1 run with a three-point make by DeAndre Bembry to expand the Hawks’ lead to 32-23 with 3:55 to play in the half.
The Hawks’ run continued and it was able to expand its lead to 13 for the second time of the game at the 1:33 mark of the half. Bembry added another three, to expand Saint Joseph’s lead to 16 with just over a minute to play.
With the clock winding down in the half, Illinois State junior guard Paris Lee was planning to hold the ball for one final shot to end the half. Saint Joseph’s Demery had other plans, intercepting Lee’s pass and scoring while being fouled. Demery’s made the free throw inflated the Hawks’ lead to 46-26.
The Hawks made eight of 16 three-pointers in the first half, shooting 50-percent.
The Redbirds came out of the locker room with some momentum as McIntosh scored just seconds into the half, but Saint Joseph’s answered quickly expanding its lead to 53-30 with less than 18 minutes to play.
Saint Joseph’s continued to make its open shot and expand its lead to 62-33 at the 15:35 mark before ISU’s sophomore guard Tony Wills hit a three to knock three points off the large defect.
Illinois State showed some life scoring seven straight points capped by a offensive rebound and score by freshman forward David Ndiaye to cut the Saint Joseph’s lead to 62-40 with 11:29 to play.
Hawk’s guard Papa Ndao connected on a pair of three’s to expand its lead to 72-42.
Head coach Dan Muller was issued his first technical foul of the season with 7:56 remaining for arguing calls with officials. The technical free throws were both good.
The Redbirds put together another run, this one of 15-1 to cut the Saint Joseph’s lead to 74-57 with 3:49 to play.
Saint Joseph’s Chris Clover halted the run with a three to give the Hawks a 20-point lead once again.
McIntosh led the Redbirds with 16 points, while adding seven rebounds and four assists. Senior guard Deavughn Akoon-Purcell added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Lee added 11 points and 4 assists.
Saint Joseph’s was led in scoring by Isaiah Miles and Bembry’s 16 points. Shavar Newkirk added 13 points, Demery added 12, and Aaron Brown collected 11. Bembry had a game high nine rebounds.
The Redbirds fall to 5-7 on the season, and this marks its final road nonconference game of the season.
Illinois State returns to action Tuesday night when it plays host to Tennessee State. TSU is coach by Dana Ford, who formally played at Illinois State, and was associate head coach under Dan Muller before taking the head coaching job at TSU.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. with Redbird Preview beginning at 5 p.m.
Listen to postgame comments from head coach Dan Muller here.
Austin Duncan can be reached at [email protected]
