BARCELONA, Spain – Illinois State scored 18 unanswered points to start the fourth quarter, breaking open what had been a 12-point game, in a 106-70 victory over Selecció Sporthouse Mataró (SSM) Saturday night. ISU finished its 10-day Spain trip with a 3-1 record.
"I thought our first, second and fourth quarters were great with great energy, and in our third quarter, we had a little lag," head coach Dan Muller said. "We probably had 20 steals or so in the game. Our defense was very active. A lot of different guys did a lot of good things, but it was all predicated on deflections and steals on the defensive end."
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell led all scorers with 28 points and five rebounds. Quintin Brewer collected a team-best 12 rebounds while adding nine points.
SSM took an early 4-0 lead before Brewer pulled the Redbirds within one by converting a three-point play. Paris Lee later tied the game, 11-11, with a 3-pointer at the 6:40 mark, and Nick Banyard's hook-shot pushed ISU ahead, 13-11, with six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
After SSM tied the game again, 21-21, at the 2:30 mark, the Redbirds answered with a 7-0 run to take a 28-21 advantage on a Brewer free throw. Justin McCloud's 3-pointer increased Illinois State's lead to 31-22 at the end of the first quarter.
At the beginning of the second quarter, SSM pulled within 36-27. However, Lee's jumper reestablished a double-digit Redbird advantage. Elvis Harvey scored three-straight points to put ISU ahead, 51-31, and the Redbirds led at halftime, 55-40.
SSM scored the first field goal of the second half, sparking a 6-0 run and cutting Illinois State's advantage to 58-48 at the 7:50 mark. With four minutes remaining in the third quarter, SSM trimmed ISU's advantage to 65-61. But, the Redbirds once again responded, ending the third quarter on a 14-4 run, capped off by a Tony Wills steal and layup, to give ISU a 79-65 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
The Redbirds then started the fourth quarter on an 18-0 run, with 14 points alone from Akoon-Purcell, as ISU established a 97-65 advantage. Illinois State also teamed up to limit SSM to just five fourth-quarter points.
Daouda "David" Ndiaye subbed in late in game after being sidelined during the first three exhibition contests due to injury. Ndiaye scored a field goal, collected a rebound and blocked a shot to help ISU in the winning effort.
With Illinois State's Spain trip complete, the Redbirds will travel back to Normal, Illinois Sunday before beginning the fall semester Monday. ISU men's basketball will tip off the 2015-16 season Nov. 13 at San Diego State following a Nov. 8 exhibition game at home versus Southern Indiana.
Information regarding 2015-16 Illinois State men's basketball season tickets is available by calling (309) 438-8000 or by clicking here.
Illinois State 106, Selecció Sporthouse Mataró 70
*Akoon-Purcell: 28 points, 5 rebounds
Harvey: 13 points, 4 rebounds
*Lee: 12 points, 3 rebounds
McCloud: 11 points, 6 rebounds
*Brewer: 9 points, 12 rebounds
Griffin: 8 points, 10 rebounds
McIntosh: 8 points, 9 rebounds
*Wills: 8 points, 4 rebounds
*Banyard: 7 points, 6 rebounds
Ndiaye: 2 points, 1 rebound
Thompson: 0 points, 1 rebound
*Indicates Starter
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