Illinois edges Illinois State to win Cancun Challenge

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Updated: November 24, 2011 12:52AM

CANCUN, Mexico — Sam Maniscalco scored 14 points, including five in the final minute, and Illinois hung on to beat Illinois State 63-59 on Wednesday night in the championship game of the Cancun Challenge.

D.J. Richardson scored 13 points and Brandon Paul 12 for the Illini (5-0). Maniscalco’s basket gave Illinois a 59-54 lead, and his layup restored a five-point lead after a pair of Illinois State free throws.

Jackie Carmichael had 17 points and Jon Ekey 14 for the Redbirds (3-2), who had a chance to win at the end. Tyler Brown missed a long three-pointer with a second left and the Redbirds trailing 61-59. Paul made two free throws for the final margin.

Richardson was named the tournament MVP, and Maniscalco made the all-tournament team.

Illinois is 8-0 all-time against Illinois State. The schools, whose campuses are only 50 miles apart, flew to Cancun together.