Illinois State holds on late to beat Murray State 63-61
NORMAL, Ill. (AP) Deontae Hawkins scored 16 points with nine rebounds and Illinois State held on late to beat Murray State 63-61 on Sunday.
Illinois State (4-6) led by three with 50 seconds left. Murray State's Bryce Jones missed a jumper and the long rebound went to MiKyle McIntosh. He found a streaking DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, who went the length for the jam and a five-point lead. Jones drained a 3 to pull back to within two. After a timeout, the Redbirds broke the press, but Akoon-Purcell missed the front of a 1-and-1.
Murray State (5-5) had trouble with the inbounds play, and Jeffery Moss missed an off-balance 3 for the final.
Akoon-Purcell and Nick Banyard finished with 11 points apiece.
Wayne Langston led Murray State with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Jones and Damarcus Croaker scored 12 points apiece.
