Dec. 16, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
ISU used a quick start to claim a double-digit advantage mid-way through the first half, and took a 32-19 lead into the locker room at halftime. Very similar to ISU's last road game at Eastern Michigan (Dec. 4), the Redbirds came out firing, jumping out to an 11-4 lead. Slack had eight points in the stretch, including ISU's first six tallies. Johnson added his first of three treys heading into the first media timeout (16:25). Eldridge followed with eight straight points to propel the Redbirds' lead to 19-8 just four minutes later.
ISU held a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the half, holding the Falcons to just five points over the final 6:25 of the stanza. ISU received a lift from junior forward Brandon Sampay, who was seeing his first substantial action since Nov. 27. He scored six-straight points after Slack picked up his second foul (5:00). Johnson's nine points led a balanced offensive attack for the Redbirds, while Knight chipped in six points to lead BGSU.
Illinois State shot 42.3 percent in the frame, and was 6-for-6 from the free throw line. The Falcons countered with just a 30.8 mark from the field, and committed nine turnovers.
