Nov. 19, 2005
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Late three-point field goals by seniors Neil Plank and Nedu Onyeuku helped the Illinois State Redbirds come from behind in the final two minutes to win its season and home opener against the Indianapolis Greyhounds at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds (1-0) overcame a large second half run by the Greyhounds (0-1) to pick up the win in front of 3,747 fans Saturday.
Neither team shot well in the first half, with ISU shooting just 37 percent from the field and the Greyhounds shooting just 27 percent in the half. The Redbirds were down 4-0 early in the half, when Neil Plank hit a three-pointer to give ISU its first points of the day and bring the score to 4-3 with 17:04 left in the first half. However, both teams went cold soon after and neither scored for nearly four minutes, until freshman Brandon Holtz gave ISU its first lead of the day, 5-4, on a layup at the 13-minute mark.
The two squads then traded baskets until ISU went on a 16-4 run beginning at the 11:08 and ending at the 3:14 mark, giving ISU a 24-16 lead. The run was highlighted by two three-point baskets by 6-10 center Levi Dyer, with senior Dana Ford chipping in for five points. ISU continued to control the game for the rest of the half, going into the locker room at the break with a 30-21 lead. Holtz and Dyer finished the half as the Redbirds' leading scorers with six points while Luke Blank led the Greyhounds with seven points.
The start of the second half was much like the start of the first, with both teams exchanging baskets and ISU leading by as many as 11. However, the Greyhounds put on a run worthy of their namesake, as the `Hounds went on a 13-0 run that spanned five minutes, giving Indianapolis its first lead since the 7:26 mark in the first half. Daniel Cox had five points and Braxton Mills added four during the run that eventually saw the Greyhounds take a 44-42 lead.
ISU clawed back to within two at 48-46, when Plank and Onyeuku hit back-to-back three-pointers to give ISU at 52-48 with just under two minutes left to play in the second half. That spark propelled the Redbird defense, which gave up just two free throws in the last 2:11 to bring the final score to 54-50. Plank led all scores with 12 points and Onyeuku added nine to lead the Redbirds. Cox was the only Greyhound in double figures with 10.
ISU returns to action Tuesday, November 22, against perennial NCAA tournament invitees Cincinnati for the team's first road contest of the season. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Cincinnati.
