NORMAL, Ill. – Four senior players and two senior managers will be honored in Illinois State's regular-season finale, as the ISU men's basketball team hosts Southern Illinois Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
With just two regular-season games remaining, Illinois State can earn the No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 seed ahead of next week's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. ISU (17-11, 9-7 MVC) has won two-straight games, while Southern Illinois (10-19, 3-13 MVC) is aiming to snap a four-game losing streak.
Seniors Daishon Knight, Bobby Hunter, John Jones and James Stawarz will be recognized in a pregame ceremony held with 12 minutes remaining on the countdown clock, at approximately 6:45 p.m.. Senior managers Andy Holloway and Connor Kaminke will also be honored for their contributions to the program.
THE SERIES:
Illinois State hosts Southern Illinois Wednesday night for the 147th meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1915, which the Salukis lead, 77-69. ISU is 46-22 versus SIU in Normal, Illinois, with a 15-11 mark at Redbird Arena. Head coach Dan Muller is 3-2 versus Southern Illinois, with SIU winning this season's first meeting (Feb. 7).
WHAT'S AT STAKE?:
Illinois State can earn seeds No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 for the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. To secure the No. 3 seed, the Redbirds must win both of their remaining games while Indiana State must lose its final two contests. Southern Illinois can still earn the No. 8, No. 9 or No. 10 seed.
ILLINOIS STATE AT A GLANCE:
Improved to 17-11 and 9-7 in the MVC after winning two-straight against Bradley (Feb. 18) and Loyola (Feb. 21) ... currently tied for fourth place in the MVC ... is 9-5 at home ... leads the MVC in blocked shots, steals and offensive rebounds per game ... led by Daishon Knight who ranks No. 5 in the MVC with 14.2 points per game ... earned three MVC Newcomer of the Week accolades ... selected to finish fifth in the MVC.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT A GLANCE:
Fell to 10-19 and 3-13 in the MVC after losing four-straight games ... the Salukis' last victory this year was over Illinois State (Feb. 7) ... led by Anthony Beane who ranks second in the MVC with 16.2 points per game overall ... picked to finish seventh in the MVC after going 14-19 overall and 9-9 to tie for fourth place in the league last season … returned two of last year's starters.
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Illinois State surmounted an 18-point first-half deficit to briefly take a second-half lead; however, Southern Illinois held on for a 65-59 Missouri Valley Conference victory over the Redbirds Feb. 7 at SIU Arena. Trailing, 32-14, at the 6:28 mark in the first half, ISU pulled within 34-28 at halftime before taking a two-point advantage with 1:49 remaining. However, the Salukis outscored the Redbirds, 10-2, over the final 109 seconds to hold off ISU. Reggie Lynch netted a career-high 18 points with eight rebounds and four blocks, while DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell scored a team-best 19 points. Anthony Beane led Southern Illinois with 23 points and four rebounds. The Redbirds shot 37.0 percent from the field compared to SIU's 40.0 percent effort. ISU outrebound Southern Illinois, 37-34.
HOME STRETCH
With just two regular-season games remaining, Illinois State enters Wednesday's game tied with Evansville for fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, with the mathematical potential to earn the MVC Tournament's No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5 seed. For Illinois State to earn the No. 3 seed, the Redbirds (9-7 MVC) must win their final two games (versus Southern Illinois, Feb. 25, and at Evansville, Feb. 28), and Indiana State (10-6) must lose both of its remaining games (versus Wichita State, Feb. 25, and at Bradley, Feb. 28). Indiana State would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Illinois State after sweeping the Redbirds, and in the case of a three-way tie, Indiana State would hold the mini round-robin tiebreaker over Illinois State and Evansville, even if Illinois State sweeps Evansville.
SWEEPING UP
With a 67-60 victory over Loyola (Feb. 21), Illinois State earned its fourth Missouri Valley Conference regular-season sweep of the season, marking the first time that the Redbirds have swept four MVC foes since also sweeping four during the 2008-09 season. This year, ISU has swept Bradley, Drake, Loyola and Missouri State. After beating Evansville at home (Feb. 3), the Redbirds will have one more chance for a series sweep when ISU plays at UE in the Feb. 28 regular-season finale.
DEFENSIVE DUO
Illinois State is the only program in the nation to feature players in the top 15 for both steals per game and blocks per game. Redbird sophomore guard Paris Lee leads the MVC and ranks No. 7 nationally with 2.6 steals per game, while sophomore center Reggie Lynch leads the league and ranks No. 14 nationally with 2.9 blocks per game.
RE-IGKNITED
After being held scoreless for just the second time in his career (Feb. 14 against No. 13 Wichita State), senior guard Daishon Knight bounced back to lead Illinois State in scoring during both of ISU's victories last week, at Bradley (Feb. 18) and versus Loyola (Feb. 21). The Baltimore, Maryland, native averaged a team-best 18.0 points while shooting 13-for-24 (54.2 percent) from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Knight has now recorded double-figures in 25 out of the last 34 games dating back to last season. He is the only Redbird to have started all 28 of ISU's games this season, and has a team-best streak of 42-straight starts.
DOUBLE-THREAT DeVAUGHN
Junior guard DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell has emerged as one of ISU's best scorers and rebounders. Last week, Akoon-Purcell averaged a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game plus 11.5 points, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists in Illinois State's wins at Bradley (Feb. 18) and against Loyola (Feb. 21). Akoon-Purcell shot 9-for-20 (45.0 percent) from the field and 3-for-6 at the free throw line. Akoon-Purcell has reached double-digit scoring in 14 of his 21 games this season. He has also collected eight or more rebounds twice this season.
ROAD WARRIORS
A year after going 3-11 on the road – with just one Missouri Valley Conference victory – ISU won its fourth MVC road game of the year by beating Bradley in Peoria, Illinois (Feb. 18), marking the first time that the Redbirds have earned four MVC road victories since going 4-5 in MVC road games during the 2008-09 season. Illinois State has earned the rebounding edge in nine of its 11 road matchups.
I-74 RIVALRY SWEEP
Three Redbirds reached double figures as Illinois State snapped a season-long three-game losing streak with a 60-47 win at Bradley (Feb. 18). ISU swept the regular-season I-74 Rivalry series versus BU for the first time since 2011-12.
STEALING A RECORD
In Illinois State's game at No. 12 Northern Iowa (Feb. 11), sophomore point guard Paris Lee set the ISU single-season steals record, earning his third steal of the game and 62nd of the season at the 12:41 mark, forcing Wyatt Lohaus to turn the ball over at midcourt. Lee passed the previous record of 61, established by Todd Starks in 1986-87.
CATCHING COACH
After matching a career high with six steals at Bradley (Feb. 18) followed by a two-steal performance against Loyola (Feb. 21), Paris Lee now has 70 steals this season and 117 for his career. Lee is tied for No. 16 on ISU's career steals list with head coach and former player Dan Muller's. Lee's 2.6 steals per game is also on pace to set ISU's season-steals average mark, which is 2.0, set by Ron Jones in 1979-80.
SOPHOMORE SWATTER
Sophomore center Reggie Lynch has 74 blocks this season, establishing a school record for rejections by a sophomore player. Last year, Evansville's Egidijus Mockevicius had 65 blocks in his sophomore season, and the league's all-time record is 157. Lynch leads all MVC players this season with 74 total blocks - he needs two more to move into second all-time in MVC history for blocks by a sophomore player.
MVC Single-Season Leaders (Sophomore Season)
157 - Benoit Benjamin, Creighton (1983-84)
75 - Grant Stout, UNI (2004-05)
74 - Reggie Lynch, Illinois State (2014-15)
72 - Patrick O'Bryant, Bradley (2005-06)
FULL STRENGTH
Everyone on Illinois State's active roster has been healthy in ISU's last four games. In total, injuries caused ISU players to miss a combined 21 games: DeVaughn Akoon Purcell, seven, broken right hand; Deontae Hawkins, 10, stress reaction in left foot; Reggie Lynch, two, back pain; Paris Lee, one, knee; John Jones, one, plantar fasciitis in left foot. ISU has gone 5-2 in the MVC when the Redbirds are healthy.
REBOUNDING REDBIRDS
By outrebounding No. 12 Northern Iowa (Feb. 11), Illinois State earned the rebounding advantage in seven-consecutive games for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Redbirds' streak was snapped versus No. 13 Wichita State (Feb. 14), and after also being outrebounded at Bradley, ISU lost the rebounding battle in two-straight games for the first time all season.
DECISIVE WINS
The Redbirds have earned 11 (out of 17) double-digit wins compared to just two double-digit losses (out of 11). Six of Illinois State's defeats have been by five points or less.
FIRST-HALF ATTACK
Illinois State has held the halftime advantage in all but six games - with one tie - this season. ISU is 17-4 when leading at halftime, 0-1 when tied, and 0-6 when trailing at the half. ISU has also earned a cumulative +6.2 scoring margin in the first half, compared to a +0.0 second-half scoring margin.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
The Redbirds lead the Missouri Valley Conference in steals (7.6) per game and blocks (4.4), which is No. 45 and No. 76 in the nation, respectively.
REBOUNDING DIVIDEND
The Redbirds lead the Missouri Valley Conference with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game. ISU has established a +3.6 offensive rebounding margin (365-272), while holding an advantage on the offensive glass in 18 games, with two ties. ISU has capitalized on its offensive boards, scoring 133 more second-chance points than its opponents (334-201).Â
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
Illinois State's non-conference strength of schedule is ranked No. 39 in the nation according to the Feb. 20 Collegiate Basketball News RPI Report. ISU's No. 39 NCSS leads the Missouri Valley Conference, and ISU's RPI is No. 86, which is third-best in the league (behind Wichita State (15) and Northern Iowa (18)).
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
