BARCELONA, Spain – After the European Basketball Academy cut Illinois State's second-half lead to seven points, the Redbird men's basketball team answered with a 28-6 run and went on to win, 99-74, in exhibition play Thursday night. ISU improved to 2-1 on its 10-day, four-game trip to Spain.
"I thought our defensive intensity was much better tonight," head coach Dan Muller said. "We had seen some intensity in the first two games at times, but there's no question that tonight we had the most sustained intensity, competitiveness and communication. I liked how we played tonight."
Roland Griffin scored 20 points to lead five Redbirds in double-figures. He also added five rebounds. Tony Wills contributed 18 points and five boards, DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell tallied 17 points, Nick Banyard had 11 points with seven rebounds, and Paris Lee chipped in 10 points. Quintin Brewer collected a team-best 11 rebounds while netting four points in the winning effort.
The European Basketball Academy jumped ahead, 5-1, early, but Akoon-Purcell grabbed back-to-back offensive rebounds and scored Illinois State's first field goal at the 7:30 mark.
Griffin then gave ISU the lead, contributing to a 12-3 run and building a 13-8 advantage. ISU added on with a Banyard steal followed by a Brewer layup, making the score 20-12. A long-range 3-pointer by the European Basketball Academy at the first-quarter buzzer narrowed ISU's lead to 29-21.
Illinois State started the second quarter on an 8-2 run, with two baskets apiece by Griffin and Wills. Akoon-Purcell's one-handed dunk with 4:15 remaining in the first half pushed ISU ahead, 45-31. The Redbirds went on to lead, 56-41, at halftime.
The European Basketball Academy started the second half with an 8-0 run to pull within 56-49. However, the Redbirds answered by outscoring their opponent, 28-6, including back-to-back Lee 3-pointers to give ISU an 84-55 lead.
Illinois State started the fourth quarter ahead, 84-59, and the Redbirds went on to win, 99-74. Thursday night's game included two approximately 10-minute delays due to the gymnasium's lights going out.
The Redbirds conclude their Spain trip with an exhibition game against Selecció Sporthouse Mataró (previously listed as AEC Colleblanc Basketball Club) in Barcelona Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT. For continuous coverage of the Illinois State men's basketball team's trip to Spain, including game and travel recaps, photo galleries and more, visit GoRedbirds.com.
Illinois State 99, European Basketball Academy 74 Stats
Griffin: 20 points, 5 rebounds
Wills: 18 points, 5 rebounds
*Akoon-Purcell: 17 points, 3 rebounds
*Banyard: 11 points, 7 rebounds
*Lee: 10 points, 1 rebound
*McCloud: 9 points, 2 rebounds
Harvey: 7 points, 5 rebounds
Brewer: 4 points, 11 rebounds
Evans: 3 points, 0 rebounds
*McIntosh: 3 points, 2 rebounds
Thompson: 1 point, 1 rebound
*Indicates Starter
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