ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell and Bobby Hunter scored 12 points apiece as Illinois State's balanced attack toppled Old Dominion 64-45 on Sunday night, advancing the Red Birds to the championship game of the Paradise Jam tourney.
Illinois State (2-1) meets Seton Hall Monday night. Old Dominion (3-1) plays Gardner-Webb for third place.
The Red Birds flew from the gate on a 9-0 run, Old Dominion not getting on the board for 3:34.
Daishon Knight added eight points, eight rebounds and five assists for the victors, who out-boarded Old Dominion 35-26.
Trey Freeman led the Monarchs with 16 points and Richard Ross added 15. Old Dominion pieced together a 10-2 run and closed within 28-22 with 3-pointers by Freeman and Ambrose Mosley. But Knight, Hunter and Akoon-Purcell closed the half 6-2 and the Monarchs never got closer than 11.
