FINAL STATS
DAN MULLER INTERVIEW | DEONTAE HAWKINS INTERVIEW
CHICAGO – MiKyle McIntosh scored a game-high 21 points and the Illinois State men's basketball team shot a season-high 58.3 percent from the field, as the Redbirds used a 12-2 second-half run to permanently pull away from Loyola in a 78-70 Missouri Valley Conference victory over the Ramblers Wednesday night at Gentile Arena.
After winning four of their last five games, the Redbirds improved to 13-11 overall and 7-4 in the MVC and are now in a four-way tie for second place in the league standings. Loyola fell to 10-13 overall and 3-8 in the MVC. Along with shooting 28-for-48 (58.3 percent) from the field, Illinois State went 5-for-10 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Loyola shot 24-for-48 (50.0 percent) and 9-for-22 (40.9 percent), respectively. The Redbirds also outrebounded the Ramblers, 32-19.
Not only was McIntosh ISU's leading scorer, but he also collected a team-best six rebounds. He was joined in double-figure scoring by Deontae Hawkins (14 points and five rebounds) and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (12 points, two rebounds and five assists). Loyola was led by Montel James, who netted 15 points with five rebounds.
Both teams exchanged baskets to start the game until Loyola built a 15-10 advantage on a Devon Turk 3-pointer at the 14:21 mark, Illinois State answered with a 10-2 run, capped by a Tony Wills trifecta from the wing, pushing ISU ahead, 17-20, with 11:47 remaining in the first half.
However, an ensuing 8-0 run by Loyola allowed the Ramblers to take a 25-20 advantage on Julius Rajala's layup at the 8:41 mark. Justin McCloud stopped the streak with a 3-pointer in transition, sparking a 5-0 Redbird run to tie the game, 25-25. A steal by Wills followed by a Nick Banyard fast-break dunk gave ISU a 31-30 lead at with 4:41 remaining in the opening stanza. The teams again exchanged baskets, and Loyola ended the half on an 8-4 run to hold a 40-37 halftime advantage.
The Ramblers started the second half by outscoring Illinois State, 6-0, for a 46-37 lead, which was their largest of the game. Illinois State then manufactured a 14-2 run, including nine points by McIntosh, and capped by a Wills fade-away jumper, as the Redbirds established a 51-48 advantage with 12:48 remaining.
After Loyola went on a 7-2 run to regain a one-point lead at 59-58, ISU answered with a 12-2 run, capped by a McIntosh layup to take a 70-61 advantage at the 2:16 mark. With Loyola forced to foul, the Redbirds went 8-for-10 at the free throw line in the final minute to secure the 78-70 victory.
With Illinois State's two-game MVC road trip complete, ISU returns to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena to host No. 21 Wichita State this Saturday, Feb. 6 for a 9 p.m. tipoff. Tickets can be purchased by visiting or calling the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000, or by navigating to GoRedbirds.com/Tickets.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
