Senior sharpshooter Trey Guidry poured in a game and career-high 30 points, including the three-pointer that put the game into overtime, to give Illinois State its first back-to-back road victories since the 2001-02 season with an 82-77 overtime win at Creighton Saturday night at the Qwest Center OMAHA.
With the win the Redbirds moved into third place in the Missouri Valley Conference race by lifting their record to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in the league. Creighton fell to 12-7 and 4-4, respectively.
The Bluejays looked to be in control with a 68-62 lead with 1:58 left in regulation, but a missed free throw by Tyler McKinney and a turnover by Nate Funk opened the door for Guidrys heroics. With four seconds left in the second half, Guidry swished a trey from the left side of the arch to knot the game at 68-68. McKinney heaved a three-point attempt at the buzzer, but it bounced off the front of the rim and pushed the game into overtime.
In the extra period with the game tied 71-71 and 2:45 on the clock, the Redbirds took control with a pair of baskets by Lorenzo Gordon and Guidry. Vince Greene, for the second straight game, saved the win with a 6-for-6 effort from the line.
Guidry and Funk traded baskets in the first half as Guidy finished the first frame with 18 points and Funk posted 14. Creighton jumped out to a 5-0 lead to open the game and led by as much as 10 points at 23-13. The Redbirds responded with a 13-7 run with Guidry scoring seven in the spurt to close the gap to 30-26. The Jays led the entire half with a 37-32 lead at the intermission.
Guidrys 30 points was the most by a Redbird since Tarise Bryson fired 38 in the 2001 National Invitation Tournament game at Purdue. His 30 tallies also marked a Qwest Center record. Gordon posted his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Greene finished with 10 points.
Funk led the Jays with 26 points and Kellen Miliner and Tyler McKinney tossed in 13 and 12 points respectively.
Illinois State returns to Redbird Arena on Tuesday when it hosts Evansville at 7:05 p.m.
