Illinois State Game Notes FINAL – Illinois State 85, Youngstown State 73 (OT) Nov. 29, 2014 • Redbird Arena • Normal, Ill. ILLINOIS STATE PLAYER NOTES: • Reggie Lynch recorded a career-high seven blocks and took sole possession of No. 7 on the ISU career blocks list, passing former Redbird Jeff Wilkins. Lynch now has 109 blocks. • Lynch is the first Redbird to block at least seven shots in a game since Greg Dilligard at Loyola on December 18, 2004, tying him for fourth on the ISU single-game blocked shots list. He also finished with 10 points in 26 minutes. • Bobby Hunter continued his hot streak to lead the Redbirds with 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including four three-pointers. • Deontate Hawkins recorded a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds, but struggled with his shooting, finishing 5-for-17. • Devaughn Akoon-Purcell finished with 18 points to continue the junior transfer’s strong start to the season. ILLINOIS STATE TEAM NOTES: • Starters: Paris Lee (G), Daishon Knight (G), Deontae Hawkins (F), DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell (F), Reggie Lynch (C). • ISU comitted four turnovers in the first four minutes, but still held a 4-3 lead with 15:49 remaining in the first half. • Reggie Lynch recorded three-straight blocks in back-to-back possessions to keep the YSU attack at bay, and the Redbirds held a 17-13 advantage with just under 10 minutes to play • With a three-pointer from the top of the key, Bobby Hunter extended the ISU lead to 22-17 with just under six minutes to play in the first half. • The Redbirds took a 32-24 lead into halftime following a 5-0 run and a tough defensive stop on the closing possession. • Hunter gave ISU a 38-37 lead with a driving layup after absorbing the contact from a YSU defender. • Justin McCloud nailed a three-pointer, the first field goal of his career, to cut the YSU lead to three, 49-46. • Hunter connected with a three-point jumper from the right corner to cut the Penguins’ advantage, 57-56. • Hunter hit another three from the corner to tie the game, 59-59 with just under four minutes to play. • Hawkins converted a running hook shot to pull ISU closer, 64-63, with 1:11 remaining. • With 33.7 seconds left, Hawkins nailed a pair of free throws to put the Redbirds ahead, 65-64. • Akoon-Purcell opened up the overtime scoring with a driving layup. • A layup by Hunter gave the Redbirds another two-point lead, but he failed to convert the ensuing free throw. • Lynch converted a pair of free throws before fouling out of the contest to increase the lead to 71-69. • Lee made his first bucket of the game with 2:33 left to play in overtime, and converted the ensuing free throw to make the score, 74-71. • Akoon-Purcell made three free throws and a driving layup to put ISU ahead for good, 79-73. • ISU trailed for a total of only 21 seconds in the first half. • Eleven different Redbirds saw game action, with Lee leading the way with 39 minutes. YOUNGSTOWN STATE PLAYER NOTES: • One game after scoring a team-high 29 points, including the game-winning three-pointer, Marcus Keene led the way once again for YSU, tallying 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting. • Shawn Amiker finished with 12 points and eight rebounds and never came out of the game, seeing 45 minutes of action. • DJ Cole tallied 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting. • Bobby Hain finished with six points, eight rebounds and six assists. YOUNGSTOWN STATE TEAM NOTES: • Starters: Jalon Plummer (G), Shawn Amiker (G), Marcus Keene (G), DJ Cole (F), Bobby Hain (F). • Amiker gave YSU its only lead of the first half with a layup that put Youngstown State ahead, 5-4. • Two jumpers by Keene and a layup by Plummer brought the Penguins to within two points, 19-17, with just under seven minutes to play in the first half. • YSU entered the locker room at halftime down by eight, but came out hot with a 10-4 run to take its first lead. • Hain converted a pair of free throws to give the Penguins a 37-36 lead coming out of halftime. • Back-to-back three-pointers from the left wing by Keene and Shaun Stewart gave YSU the lead, 49-43, with 9:43 remaining. • A pair of layups by Amiker and Hain gave YSU its largest lead of the game, 53-46, and one minute later, the Penguins matched that lead, 55-48, with another layup. • Keene converted a bucket with a foul and hit the free throw to put the Penguins ahead, 62-59. • Cole nailed a big free throw to tie the game, 65-65, and send the game into overtime. • Keene nearly made his second-straight game-winning three-pointer, but his long jump shot over two defenders hit the back of the rim. GAME NOTES: • Although the two programs are both members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, Saturday’s game was the first-ever basketball meeting between the two schools. • The win was ISU’s first victory at Redbird Arena this year after dropping the season opener to Utah State • There were a combined 32 turnovers committed by the two teams. • The game featured eight ties and eight lead changes. • With a 50-29 rebound advantage, ISU has now either matched or outrebounded every opponent this season. • The Redbird bench outscored YSU’s bench output, 34-7, and also collected 19 second-chance points..