By Austin Duncan
EVANSVILLE, In- The Illinois State Redbirds now sit alone in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference after taking down Evansville 70-60 at the Ford Center in Evansville
Evansville collected the first score of the game on a 3-pointer by Blake Simmons.
Illinois State answered on a steal by Devaughn Akoon-Purcell leading to a 3-pointer by Deontae Hawkins.
The Aces rattled off a quick 5-0 run to take the largest lead of the half for either team at 8-3 with 16:32 to play.
The Redbirds gathered its first lead of the game after a 6-0 run, capped by a jump shot by Akoon-Purcell to give Illinois State a 9-8 advantage.
Illinois State would lead by as many as four points in the first half before Evansville used an eight-point swing to take a four point lead with under a minute to play. ISU’s Quintin Brewer missed a layup and collected the rebound giving the ‘Birds a final shot before halftime.
Paris Lee found Mikyle McIntosh for a 3-pointer to cut Evansville’s halftime lead to 30-29.
Illinois State’s Nick Banyard led all first half scorers with 10 points.
Tony Wills scored the first points of the second half for the Redbirds to give Illinois State a two-point advantage. The Redbirds expanded its lead to the largest of the game for either team, taking a 39-32 lead with 16:14 to play.
Evansville would then lean on its most reliable player, D.J. Balentine who scored five straight points to bring the Aces within two.
Illinois State expanded its lead to seven once again on a layup by Banyard with 12:34 to play.
With 11:11 to play, Egidijus Mockevicius picked up his fourth foul and Evansville head coach Marty Simmons sat the 6-foot-11 Lithuanian which enabled the Redbirds to get the ball inside and expand its lead to as many as 13 points with 6:36 to play.
The Aces opted to foul with around three minutes remaining, down nine. The Redbirds made 10-of-10 free throws down the stretch to seal the deal for the Redbirds.
In the late stages of the game, the Redbirds had three players foul out including MiKyle McIntosh, Wills, and Banyard.
Illinois State was paced by Nick Banyard’s team and career-high 18 points. Akoon-Purcell and McIntosh added 14 and 11 point, respectively. Deontae Hawkins added a team-high nine rebounds while McIntosh collected eight. Paris Lee collected a season-high nine assists. Lee played a team-high 38 minutes.
Once again, Illinois State made the most of its shots from the charity stripe, connecting on 15-of-16 free throws. The Redbirds are shooting 88-percent from the line in the last two games.
Evansville was led by D.J. Balentine’s 19 points and Adam Wing added 11. Egidijus Mockevicius finished with yet another double-double finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Mockevicius fouled out for the first time this season.
The Redbirds and Aces enter the contest tied for second place. The two teams split the regular season series after Evansville won the first meeting 66-55.
For the first time this season, Illinois State is four games above .500 with a regular season record of 15-11 and a 9-4 mark in MVC play. The Redbirds have won six of its last seven game.
Evansville drops to 8-5 in MVC play.
Illinois State returns to action Sunday as it hosts I-74 rival, Bradley for a 3 p.m. tip at Redbird Arena. Redbird Preview will begin at 2 p.m.
Listen to postgame comments from head coach Dan Muller here.
Listen to postgame comments from junior forward Nick Banyard here.
