FINAL STATSÂ | DAN MULLER INTERVIEW | DeVAUGHN AKOON-PURCELL
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A 3-pointer by Missouri State's Dequon Miller with three seconds remaining in regulation tied the game to force overtime where MSU overcame Illinois State's early seven-point advantage by outscoring the Redbirds, 12-2, through the final 2:46 of OT to secure an 84-81 victory over the visiting Redbirds Saturday afternoon in Missouri Valley Conference play at JQH Arena.
Illinois State (12-11, 6-4 MVC) saw its three-game winning streak end, while Missouri State (9-13, 5-5 MVC) has now won five out of its last eight game. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell led the Redbirds in scoring and rebounding, netting 18 points while collecting nine rebounds. MiKyle McIntosh (16 points) and Deontae Hawkins (15 points), joined Akoon-Purcell in double-figure scoring.
Miller was one of three Bears to score in double figures with a game-high 22 points, including six 3-pointers. The Redbirds shot 47.6 percent from the field, and Missouri State shot 49.1 percent. MSU also outrebounded ISU, 34-33.
Illinois State scored the game's first field goal on an Akoon-Purcell jumper and proceeded to take a 9-2 lead on a McIntosh field goal at the 16:13 mark. Missouri State responded with a 7-0 run to tie the game, 9-9, before a Justin McCloud 3-pointer regained Illinois State's advantage.
Later in the half, a 10-2 Bears run, capped by back-to-back Miller 3-pointers, lifted Missouri State ahead, 24-16, with 6:57 remaining. Hawkins stopped the streak with a 3-pointer. However, the Bears went on to build a 27-20 advantage on another trifecta by Miller. Illinois State answered by outscoring Missouri State, 11-4, over the next four minutes to tie the game, 31-31, at the 56-second mark on a soft Quintin Brewer jumper in the paint. A jumper by Missouri State's Chris Kendrix with 26 seconds remaining allowed MSU to solidify a 33-31 halftime lead.
Akoon-Purcell gave Illinois State a 38-37 lead with a 3-pointer early in the second half, and a McIntosh three-point-play increased ISU's advantage to 43-39 with 17:33 remaining. After being held scoreless in the first half, Tony Wills scored six points in the first four minutes, building a 45-39 Redbird lead with a jumper at the 16:23 mark.
With the game later knotted up, 49-49, McCloud again broke the tie with a 3-pointer, making the score 52-49 Redbirds at the 13:12 mark. Hawkins followed with a trifecta of his own, as Illinois State established a 55-49 lead with 11:39 remaining. ISU went on to build a 59-50 advantage, the team's largest of the game, at the 8:25 mark on a McIntosh jumper. However, MSU answered with a 10-0 run, as the Bears took a one-point lead on a Williams free throw at the 5:47 mark.
Akoon-Purcell drew a foul to stop the run, and he proceeded to score two-straight free throws, followed by a Paris Lee layup to give ISU a 63-60 advantage with 4:54 remaining. ISU forced back-to-back steals, resulting in an Akoon-Purcell layup and a McIntosh free throw, as ISU pulled ahead, 68-62, at the 2:12 mark. With Illinois State leading by three points, Miller netted a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to send the game to overtime, tied at 72 points apiece.
Brewer scored ISU's first field goal in overtime, netting a soft hook shot followed by a layup by Hawkins and a Lee three-point-play to establish a 79-72 advantage at the 2:54 mark. However, Missouri State answered by manufacturing a 10-2 run to take an 82-81 advantage on a Jared Dixon jumper with 1:12 remaining.
After a timeout with 10.8 seconds remaining, a contested layup attempt by Akoon-Purcell missed, and after MSU rebounded, the Redbirds were forced to foul. Dixon proceeded to make both of his ensuing free throws with two seconds remaining, and a last-second three-point attempt by Akoon-Purcell missed, as the Bears held off ISU, 84-81.
Illinois State continues its two-game road trip by next traveling to Loyola for a Missouri Valley Conference matchup Wednesday, Feb. 3 in Chicago. Wednesday's game will be televised live on ESPN3. Fans traveling to Loyola are encouraged to participate in a pregame reception at Bar63, with details available by clicking here.
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