Nov. 11, 2007
Final Stats
Postgame Notes in PDF Format 
NORMAL, Ill. -
Consistent shooting from seniors Dom Johnson and Anthony Slack provided a late offensive spurt for the Illinois State men's basketball team Sunday afternoon, as the Redbirds (1-0) thumped Missouri-St. Louis (0-0), 70-37 on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The game marked the first regular-season victory for Redbird head coach Tim Jankovich, who took over the program March 20, 2007. Illinois State improved to 73-37 all-time in season-opening games, including a 23-15 season-opening mark in its Division I era.
Slack led all ISU scorers with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, to go along with his team-best seven rebounds. Johnson was not far behind in the scoring category, as the Bell City, Mo., native racked up 11 points. Sophomore forward Dinma Odiakosa recorded nine points to go along with five rebounds.
Illinois State recorded 17 steals in the game, the most it has had as a team since the Redbirds notched 16 in an 87-53 victory over Bellarmine Dec. 2, 2003. The Redbirds capitalized throughout the game on Triton miscues, as ISU scored 40 points off of turnovers. Illinois State's bench also played a crucial role in the game, as the Redbird non-starters outscored the Triton bench, 27-6.
Missouri-St. Louis forward Larricus Brown was the offensive catalyst for the Tritons, as he scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Turnovers and a slow offensive start plagued both teams early in the first half, as the two sides sat locked in a 2-2 tie until the 13:49 mark of the stanza; UMSL committed 11 turnovers and ISU gave the ball away five times in that time span. Freshman guard Alex Rubin broke the stalemate with a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Redbirds on top, 5-2. The ISU offense picked up steam after the 10-minute mark of the half, going on a 14-2 run that was decorated with highlight-reel dunks from sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge and Slack. After ISU built its lead to double-digits (21-10), the Tritons cut the lead back down to single-digits (21-12) with a jumper from Brown. Illinois State capitalized throughout the half on Missouri-St. Louis' 20 miscues, converting 16 of its 23 first-half points off Triton turnovers to take a 23-14 lead into halftime.
It was a game of attrition in the second half, as the Redbird defense clamped down on the Tritons. ISU allowed UMSL just 23 points in the half and forced 14 turnovers. Slack came out firing to start the half, opening the period on a 3-for-3 shooting spree for six quick points. Tight defense by the Redbirds and four points off the bench from junior guard Emmanuel Holloway pushed the ISU lead to 20 points at the 15:04 mark. Illinois State put the game out of reach late in the half, as junior guard Brandon Holtz came off the bench and drained two-straight three-pointers to give the `Birds a 29-point lead.
Illinois State returns to action Wednesday when it plays host to Southeast Missouri State at 7:05 p.m. from Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The game marks the Redbirds' first action in the Chicago Invitational Challenge, which will also see ISU play at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., over the Thanksgiving holiday.
