Nov. 24, 2007
Final Stats
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -
Illinois State overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to force a 47-47 tie in its third-place game against Kent State with 9:03 left in the game, but the Golden Flashes held on to post a 65-59 victory over the Redbirds Saturday in the Chicago Invitational Challenge at the Sears Centre.
The loss dropped ISU's record to 3-2 on the season and marked the 28th defeat in the last 31 games away from Redbird Arena, a span of three seasons. Kent State improved to 4-2 on the year
The Golden Flashes scored the first points in the second half and held a 35-24 lead with 19:42 left. The Redbirds continued to cut into the lead and with Kent State leading 44-36 at the 11:50 mark, ISU rattled off an 11-3 run to knot the game at 47-47. The Redbird spurt consisted of three-point buckets by Osiris Eldridge, Boo Richardson and Emmanuel Holloway. Eldridge paced the Redbirds with a team-high 11 points, but shot 4-for-11 from the field.
Kent State rattled off the game's next five points as part of a 10-2 run, which fueled its 57-49 lead with 4:22 on the clock. The Redbirds challenged down the stretch thanks to their full-court pressure. An Eldridge layup off a steal at the 1:24 mark closed the ISU deficit to four points, at 61-57. ISU followed up with another steal, but Anthony Slack's outlet pass was intercepted by Kent State. The Redbirds had another chance, but, again, Holloway's three-point try rolled off the front of the rim. The Golden Flashes sealed the win with a 4-for-6 effort from the foul line during the game's final 46 seconds.
In the first half, the two teams traded baskets for 11 lead changes in the first 14 minutes of the contest. The Golden Flashes took control of the half with a 10-0 run to take a 28-18 lead at the 2:51 mark, which translated into a 33-24 advantage at the intermission.
Slack nearly missed a double-double with 10 points, his fifth-straight double-digit scoring game this season, and nine rebounds. KSU was led by Mike Scott (18), Haminn Quaintance (12), Rashad Woods (10).
Illinois State returns to Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Nov. 27, when the Redbirds host Chicago State at 7:05 p.m.
