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Dan Muller Postgame Interview | Paris Lee Postgame Interview
NORMAL, Ill. – After going on a 7-3 run to pull within three points on Roland Griffin's 3-pointer at the 7:24 mark, San Diego State responded with seven unanswered points, and the Aztecs (1-0) held off Illinois State (0-1) late, 71-60, in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Viejas Arena as part of the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Conference Challenge Series.
As a freshman, Griffin led ISU's offensive effort with 13 points. He was joined in double-figures by DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and Paris Lee who each netted 10 points. Justin McCloud collected a career-best seven rebounds, while Quintin Brewer contributed nine points and six rebounds. San Diego State's Jeremy Hemsley led all scorers with 20 points. The Redbirds shot 30.8 percent from the field compared to 47.9 percent. ISU was also outrebounded, 45-33, by SDSU, in front of a sellout crowd of 12,414.
San Diego State took an early 6-1 lead, holding Illinois State without a field goal until Akoon-Purcell threw down a one-handed slam dunk with 15:59 remaining in the first half. Nick Banyard then buried a 3-pointer to give the Redbirds their only lead of the game, 10-8, at the 15:23 mark. San Diego State trimmed ISU's advantage to one point on an E'Erryl Williams free throw, and the Aztecs permanently took the lead on a jumper by Kakarai Allen with 14:19 remaining.
Illinois State ended the first half on a 6-1 run to pull within 37-34 at halftime. Following an Akoon-Purcell jumper which cut the San Diego State advantage to 43-40, the Aztecs manufactured a 5-0 run to lead, 50-43. Griffin's 3-pointer with 7:24 remaining capped a 7-3 Redbird run; however, San Diego State's ensuing 7-0 run established a double-digit lead, putting the game out of reach for ISU.
With the season opener complete, Illinois State returns to Normal, Illinois, where the Redbirds begin their home season against Morehead State Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena, presented by Illinois State University Army ROTC.
The first 200 students to arrive at Monday's game will receive a free calzone courtesy of DP Dough. Students with a Red Alert membership are admitted free to all regular-season home men's basketball games with their Illinois State IDs. All other students can purchase $5 tickets in advance on GoRedbirds.com/tickets or by visiting or calling the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-0000.
Single-game tickets for Illinois State's home opener are also available to the general public: Adult lower bowl - $23; Adult upper bowl - $12; Youth upper bowl - $7.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
