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DAN MULLER INTERVIEW | PARIS LEE INTERVIEW
NORMAL, Ill. – Paris Lee scored a career-high 21 points and the Illinois State men's basketball team led for all but 2:36 in a 73-50 win over Southern Illinois Wednesday night on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
Lee scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half and also dished out a team-high four assists. DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell made the most of his senior night with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Deontae Hawkins added 15 points and seven rebounds.
Southern Illinois scored the first points of the game off of a 3-pointer, but Illinois State (18-12, 12-5 MVC) responded with an 8-0 run from Lee and Hawkins to take an 8-3 lead into the first media timeout and Southern would never lead again. Lee continued his roll out of the timeout, draining a three from the wing before assisting a Tony Wills' bucket on the next possession.
Wills then stole the ball in the passing lane on the next possession and finished the fast break layup on the other end to extend the Redbird lead to 15-3. The steal by Wills was one of five turnovers committed by the Salukis during their eight minute scoreless drought. Southern Illinois' Anthony Beane snapped the 17-0 ISU run with a step back jumper from the elbow at the 11:50 mark. It would be his only field goal of the game.
The Redbirds' early lead was helped in part by strong offensive rebounding. Seven of ISU's first 17 points came on second chance opportunities and 12 of its points were in the paint. The Redbird defense continued to make life difficult for SIU, forcing the Salukis to shoot 18 percent from the field through the first 13 minutes.
While the Salukis struggled, Lee thrived for Illinois State. The junior sparked a 9-0 run for the Redbirds with his third three of the half and another assist that extended ISU's lead to 33-9 with 3:54 remaining in the first half.
Both teams struggled from the field for the final four minutes of the half, but the Redbirds carried a 36-15 lead into the locker room. The 21 point advantage tied ISU's largest halftime lead this season. The 15 points allowed were the fewest allowed by Illinois State in the first half this season and the second fewest ever allowed in the first half at Redbird Arena.
Lee scored 15 points in the first half and assisted on six others. He surpassed his season average in points by four and matched his season average for assists. The Redbirds shot 50 percent from the field and outscored SIU in the paint, 20-4.
ISU started the second half cold from the field, shooting 1-for-7 to start the half. Southern pulled within 17, but once again it was Lee who sparked the Redbirds with a four-point play. Following the play, the Salukis would never get within 17 points for the rest of the game.
The Redbirds shook off their cold shooting from the beginning of the half to finish 48 percent from the field for the second half. For the game, ISU was 49 percent from the field and knocked down 13 of 16 free throws.
The Redbirds held Beane to a season-low two points on 1-of-8 shooting and held SIU to 2-for-18 shooting from beyond the arc. Illinois State has won by an average of 22 points in its last three Valley wins.
The Redbirds will close the regular season Saturday at Wichita State. ISU defeated the Shockers earlier in the season at Redbird Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN2.
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