ST. LOUIS – For the second-consecutive week, the Illinois State men's basketball team has earned the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week accolade, with Redbird freshman forward Deontae Hawkins receiving this week's honor, as announced by the league office Monday.
Hawkins averaged a double-double last week, scoring 12.5 points and a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game against Seton Hall (Nov. 24) and Youngstown State (Nov. 29). Hawkins netted a career-best 18 points, while grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds for the game's only double-double in the Redbirds' overtime victory over YSU.
Hawkins netted seven points with five rebounds, one assist and one steal versus BIG EAST opponent Seton Hall in the championship game of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. He helped ISU take an early 4-3 lead by forcing a steal and assisting on a Paris Lee layup. In the second half, Hawkins capped a 9-2 Redbird run by scoring a fastbreak layup, following a steal by DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell.
A Dayton, Ohio native, Hawkins keyed ISU's victory over Youngstown State with five field goals – including a 7-for-8 (87.5 percent) effort at the free throw line – for 18 points, plus 15 rebounds, one block and one steal in a career-best 28 minutes. Hawkins became the first Redbird to record 15 boards since Jackie Carmichael accomplished the same feat March 2, 2012. Hawkins also recorded ISU's second double-double of the season.
Late in the first half, Hawkins scored a 3-pointer, a layup and a free throw to help the Redbirds build an eight-point halftime advantage. After YSU established a seven-point lead – the Penguins' largest of the game – Hawkins grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a layup to spark ISU's comeback. With Illinois State trailing by three, Hawkins' jumper at the 1:11 mark pulled the Redbirds within one. He then netted two pressure-packed free throws with 34 seconds remaining to briefly give ISU the lead before YSU forced overtime. In the extra period, Hawkins went a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line to secure Illinois State's win.
As just a freshman, he ranks second on the team with 5.4 rebounds per game, plus 8.6 points per contest through Illinois State's first five games. Hawkins and the Redbirds host VCU Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT in a game televised live on Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus, ESPN Full Court and ESPN3. Tickets are also available by visiting or calling the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000, or by navigating to GoRedbirds.com.
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