DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell averaged 20 points and eight rebounds in ISU's two wins last week. (Photo courtesy Goredbirds.com)
By ISU Sports Information
ST. LOUIS – After leading Illinois State in scoring and rebounding during both of ISU’s victories last week, junior guard DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell is the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday.
The MVC Newcomer of the Week accolade is Akoon-Purcell’s second of the season and ISU’s fourth overall. He also garnered the honor Nov. 24, while Deontae Hawkins and MiKyle McIntosh received the accolade Dec. 1 and Jan. 12, respectively.
Akoon-Purcell guided Illinois State to a 2-0 record last week, averaging a team-best 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 14-for-29 (48.3 percent) from the field, 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) from beyond the arc and a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line.
The Orlando, Fla. native was instrumental in both of ISU’s victories, leading the Redbirds with 16 points and nine rebounds at Evansville (Feb. 28), and scoring a team-best and career-high 24 points with seven rebounds versus Southern Illinois (Feb. 25). Akoon-Purcell propelled Illinois State to a four-game winning streak ahead of this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
At Evansville, Akoon-Purcell came through in the clutch, netting a layup with two seconds remaining to tie the game at 61 points apiece and force overtime. In the extra period, Akoon-Purcell scored four of Illinois State’s eight points, guiding the Redbirds to their fifth Missouri Valley Conference road victory of the season. Earlier in the game, Akoon-Purcell helped ISU build an eight-point lead – the Redbirds’ largest of the game – on back-to-back field goals.
In Illinois State’s victory over Southern Illinois, Akoon-Purcell scored 12 of ISU’s first 27 points, as the Redbirds built an early lead. After SIU fought back to tie the game, 36-36, at halftime, Akoon-Purcell came out firing on all cylinders, netting six-unanswered points to start the second half, while grabbing two defensive rebounds and forcing one steal in two minutes and 12 seconds. Akoon-Purcell then assisted on Daishon Knight’s 3-pointer, which capped a 9-0 Redbird run, as Illinois State never again trailed en route to a 17-point victory.
Akoon-Purcell now leads Illinois State with 5.7 rebounds per game, while ranking second in scoring, with 13 points per game. He and the Redbirds begin play in the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, starting Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Evansville at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
