Nov. 27, 2007
Final Stats |
Notes
NORMAL, Ill. -
Senior forward Levi Dyer recorded his second-career double-double to lead Illinois State (4-2) past Chicago State (2-5), 81-49, on Tuesday Nov. 27, at Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Dyer led the Redbirds with 16 points, 13 coming in the second half, and 10 rebounds. ISU used a big first half run to pull away from the Cougars and snap a two-game losing streak.
Dyer was one of four Redbirds to score in double-figures. Sophomore guard Osiris Eldrige had 15 points and senior forward Anthony Slack added 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the field. Sophomore forward Dinma Odiakosa scored a career-high 12 points to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks.
The Redbirds had 22 assists in the game, led by senior guard Boo Richardson's seven. Senior guard Dom Johnson added four assists and Eldridge and junior guard Emmanuel Holloway added three apiece.
Chicago State guard John Cantrell scored the first seven points to lead the Cougars to a 10-8 advantage at the 15:55 mark. From that point on, Chicago State hit a major dry spell from the field, going the next 10:21 with a point. The Redbirds scored 25 unanswered points to take a commanding 33-10 lead. Six different Redbirds scored during the run and Slack and Odiakosa netted 14 combined points.
Three free throws by Cantrell broke the Chicago State scoreless streak and sparked a 10-6 Cougar run that cut the deficit to 39-21 at halftime. Chicago State was just 7-for-29 (.241) from the field in the first half and committed nine turnovers. Illinois State was 13-for-31 in the opening frame, including five three-pointers, and handed out 12 assists.
Chicago State managed to pull within 14 points, 48-34, but back-to-back three-pointers by Dyer and Eldridge kept the `Birds ahead by 20. Those triples started a streak where Dyer and Eldridge 15-straight points between them. The Redbirds maintained at least a 20-point cushion for the final 12 minutes of the game. Back-to-back three-pointers by Dyer and junior guard Brandon Holtz and a layup by Odiakosa put the Redbirds ahead by 30 for the first time, 76-46, with just under four minutes remaining in the contest. Slack had a breakway layup in the final seconds to give the Redbirds their biggest lead of the game and produce the final 81-49 score.
Illinois State shot better than 50 percent from the field, three-point range and the free throw line in the second half. Chicago State's struggles continued as the Cougars were just 9-for-26 from the field, including 1-for-8 from three-point range, after halftime.
The Redbirds host Illinois-Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7:05 p.m.
