Final Stats
Dan Muller Postgame Interview | MiKyle McIntosh Postgame Interview
CANCUN, Mexico – A Justin McCloud 3-pointer from the left corner with 7:26 remaining gave Illinois State a five-point lead over No. 2 Maryland; however, the Terrapins answered with a 13-3 run and pulled away for a 77-66 victory over the Redbirds Tuesday night during the Cancun Challenge semifinal round at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
Illinois State (2-3) will next face Big 12 foe TCU (2-2) Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT, with the winner earning third place in the Riviera Division. No. 2 Maryland (4-0) and Rhode Island (3-1) are scheduled to face each other for the Cancun Challenge title Wednesday night.
MiKyle McIntosh led the Redbirds Tuesday evening with a season-best 17 points, which was one shy of matching a career high. Paris Lee also netted season highs in points (15) and rebounds (five) while collecting four steals and three assists. Deontae Hawkins and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell rounded out four Redbirds in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
In a game that saw 10 lead changes and nine ties, Maryland took an early 10-2 advantage, including five-straight points by Robert Carter. However, the Redbirds responded with a 9-1 run, capped off by a Lee steal and layup, to tie the game, 11-11. A Hawkins 3-pointer pushed ISU ahead for the first time, 16-15, at the 11:13 mark. Another trifecta by Hawkins gave ISU a 22-17 lead at the 9:16 mark.
The Terrapins then scored six unanswered points to regain a one-point advantage, but a Lee layup and four-straight points by McIntosh established a 29-27 Redbird lead with 2:07 remaining in the first half. Maryland scored four of the final five points in the opening stanza to take a 31-30 halftime advantage.
After Maryland scored first in the second half, Illinois State answered with an 11-4 run, capped by a Tony Wills 3-pointer from the top of the key which gave ISU a 41-37 lead at the 16:31 mark. The Terrapins again gained a five-point advantage, and the Redbirds again had a response, outscoring Maryland, 14-4, to take a five-point lead, 57-52, at the 7:26 mark on McCloud's 3-pointer. However, Maryland's final 13-3 run proved to be the difference, as the Terrapins pulled away to remain undefeated.
Wednesday's third-place game featuring Illinois State versus TCU will tip off at 5 p.m. CT and will be televised live on CBS Sports Network.
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