Dec. 21, 2007
Illinois State-Ball State Game Notes in PDF Format 
Illinois State Redbirds (7-3) at Ball State Cardinals (0-10)
Muncie, Ind. • John E. Worthen Arena
Radio: Redbird Radio Network
Dick Luedke (Play-by-play), Mike Matthews (Color)
Flagship WJBC 1230 AM
TV: None
STORYLINES
► Saturday's game is the unofficial non-conference finale for the Redbirds, who will open Missouri Valley Conference play Dec. 29 at Creighton. ISU will host an undetermined non-conference opponent on Feb. 24 as part of the ESPN BracketBusters event. Today's game is a return contest from last season's BracketBusters game on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena (Feb. 17, 2007).
► With a win at Ball State Saturday, Illinois State would clinch its first two back-to-back road wins over non-conference opponents since the 2000-01 season, when the Redbirds defeated Central Michigan and Western Illinois on their respective home courts.
► Today's game represents ISU's fourth contest against a Mid-American Conference foe this season. The Redbirds dropped decisions to Kent State (Nov. 24) and Eastern Michigan (Dec. 4), but defeated host Bowling Green Sunday to improve to 1-2 against MAC foes this season.
► With a win over Ball State, Illinois State would secure its eighth non-conference win. The Redbirds have captured eight or more non-conference victories three times over the past 10 seasons.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
► Ball State University is located in Muncie, Ind., and has a total enrollment of 17,285. The Cardinals are a NCAA Division I affiliate, and a member of the Mid-American Conference West Division.
► The Cardinals are off to a 0-10 start this season. Ball State has dropped all 10 decisions by an average of 11.8 points per game. BSU lost an overtime game against Milwaukee on Nov. 14, and was edged by Valley foe Evansville, 51-50, on Nov. 24.
► The Cardinals are in their first-year under the leadership of head coach Billy Taylor. Taylor spent the past four seasons as the mentor at Lehigh, where he led the Mountain Hawks to the 2004 NCAA Tournament, and garnered two Patriot League Coach of the Year plaudits. Taylor is assisted by Bob Simmons, Jim Molinari, Joseph Price and Jay Newberry.
► Ball State returns four letterwinners, including three starters, from a 2006-07 team that finished 9-22 overall (5-11 MAC). Junior Anthony Newell (22.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and fifth-year senior Peyton Stovall (11.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) are two of those returnees, and have been the Cardinals' catalysts early this season. Newell is out six to eight weeks with an injury to his left foot, which was diagnosed Nov. 20.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State will be playing its second-consecutive home game Saturday after completing a five-game road swing. The Cardinals lost those five games by an average of 11.6 points per game, including Sunday's 10-point (57-47) setback at Arkansas State. Ball State returned home Wednesday against UC-Santa Barbera, and suffered a 79-52 loss. The Cardinals have been considerably more competitive inside the confines of Worthen Arena this season, as they dropped a decision against Milwaukee (Nov. 14), 81-74 in overtime, and fell to MVC foe Evansville by one-point (51-50) in their last home game (Nov. 24).
LAST TIME OUT: REDBIRDS HOLD ON TO DEFEAT BGSU, 69-58
Senior guard Dom Johnson had 16 points to lead a foursome in double figures, as Illinois State's men's basketball team recorded a 69-58 win over host Bowling Green at Anderson Arena Sunday afternoon. The win marked ISU's first road victory this season. Johnson was joined in double-figures by Osiris Eldridge (11 points), Levi Dyer (11) and Brandon Sampay (10), who played in his first substantial action since Nov. 27. ISU held a 32-19 lead at halftime, but the Falcons charged back with a 17-7 spurt to begin the second half. The Redbirds never surrendered the lead, and outscored BGSU, 30-19, over the final 12:17 of the game.
NEXT UP: REDBIRDS OPEN VALLEY PLAY AT CREIGHTON
After a six-day layover for the Christmas holiday, Illinois State will play its third-consecutive road game when the Redbirds visit Creighton in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., on Dec. 29. The Bluejays (7-1) will play both North Carolina-Central (Dec. 20) and Arkansas-Little Rock (Dec. 22) before playing host to ISU.
ROAD WEARY
In order to compete for the Missouri Valley Conference championship, Illinois State will need to win some games away from Redbird Arena - something the Redbirds haven't done very often in recent campaigns. After back-to-back losses to No. 8 Indiana and Kent State in the Chicago Invitational Challenge and the Dec. 4 setback at Eastern Michigan, ISU has dropped 29 of its last 32 games away from Redbird Arena. The Redbirds were 3-10 on the road last season, and broke their previous 16-game road losing streak with a 78-65 win at St. John's on Nov. 25, 2006.
A MAC ATTACK
ISU continues its attack on the Mid-American Conference Saturday against Ball State. Playing a league member of the MAC is nothing new for Illinois State, especially since the `Birds have faced at least one MAC team during the last nine seasons. The `Birds have had their share of success against the MAC with a 149-107 record (.578). The only current member of the 12-team conference that the Redbirds have never faced is Toledo. Ball State is ISU's fourth MAC opponent this season.
JUD'S HISTORY AGAINST THE CARDINALS
ISU assistant coach and former Northern Illinois mentor Rob Judson will undoubtedly be an asset to the Redbirds when preparing for their four MAC foes this season. Judson was 6-6 against Ball State in his six seasons at the helm of the Huskies, including three wins at Worthen Arena.
ANOTHER CHARITABLE EVENING
Free-throw shooting certainly hasn't been ISU's forte' this season, as the Redbirds rank last in the Missouri Valley Conference in free throw percentage (.663). For the second-consecutive game, Illinois State tallied a season-best free throw percentage against Bowling Green Sunday at Anderson Arena. The Redbirds recorded an 81.0 (17-of-21) free throw percentage in the game, after they secured a previous season-best 74.1 mark against Cincinnati on Dec. 8.
SAMPAY RETURNS
Junior forward Brandon Sampay, who has missed four games this season due to injury and personal reasons, had his best all-around effort as a Redbird at Bowling Green Sunday. In his first substantial action since Nov. 27, Sampay scored a career-high 10 points, which included a 6-of-6 effort from the free throw line. Sampay scored six-straight points over a one-minute, 43-second stretch late in the first half to help ISU build a 16-point advantage.
LEVI LIGHTIN' IT UP FROM DISTANCE
Senior center Levi Dyer entered this week's slate of Valley games ranked first in the league in three-point percentage (.491). It's still early, but if that stat holds up, Dyer would become the sixth Illinois State player to lead the MVC in the category in a single-season. In the modern era (1987-present), Dyer would also represent the only center in league history to pace the Valley in three-point percentage. Dyer went 3-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc at Bowling Green Sunday, marking the 19th time in his career that he has tallied at least three treys.
DYER JOINS 100-POINT CLUB
With 11 points at Bowling Green Sunday, senior center Levi Dyer became the third Illinois State player to eclipse 100 points on the season, joining Osiris Eldridge and Anthony Slack. Dyer has five double-digit scoring outputs this season.
THE INTERCHANGEABLE BACKCOURT
The combined assist/turnover ratio between senior starting guards Dom Johnson and Boo Richardson has been well documented, but perhaps even more interesting is how close the duo ranks statistically in other significant categories. Johnson and Richardson both have 39 assists on the season; each is averaging 2.7 rebounds per game; and both are shooting at an identical 27-percent clip from three-point range.
GONE IN 60 SECONDS
For the fifth time this season, Illinois State held an opponent to less than 60 points, when the Redbirds defeated host Bowling Green, 69-58, Sunday at Anderson Arena. The Redbirds are 5-0 this season when holding the opposition below 60 points.
DISAPPEARING WHISTLES?
Illinois State was whistled for a season-low 10 personal fouls at Bowling Green Sunday, marking the second-consecutive game ISU has committed a season-low mark in personal fouls. The Redbirds were called for 32 fouls against Eastern Michigan (Dec. 4), its most in seven years.
PROTECTING THE ROCK
The Redbirds committed just 10 turnovers against Bowling Green Sunday, a season-low mark. ISU has committed 15 or fewer turnovers in seven of the last eight games.
REBOUNDING TRIO
Anthony Slack (6.7 rpg), Osiris Eldridge (5.8) and Dinma Odiakosa (5.7) are all averaging more than five rebounds per game through 10 non-conference contests this season. The last time Illinois State had three players average at least five rebounds per game in a single season was during the 1998-99 campaign, when L. Dee Murdock (6.1 rpg), Sean Riley (5.3) and LeRoy Watkins (5.5) all grabbed more than five caroms per outing.
A TRIO OF SCORERS
At this point, Illinois State has three players averaging double-digit points per game. Osiris Eldridge is pouring in 16.0 points per contest, Anthony Slack is averaging 11.0 points per game and Levi Dyer is tossing in 10.8 tallies per game. The last time Illinois State had three players averaging double-figures was during the 2002-03 season with Gregg Alexander (11.1 ppg.), Vince Greene (12.3 ppg) and Trey Guidry (11.1 ppg).
THREE-POINT SUCCESS TRANSLATES TO WINS
Illinois State was 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) from three-point range in Sunday's win over Bowling Green, marking the seventh time this season that the Redbirds have tallied at least a 35-percent three-point shooting effort. ISU is 6-1 in those games. The `Birds shot less than 35 percent from beyond the three-point arc against Kent State (29.2), Eastern Michigan (28.6) and Cincinnati (27.3).
WINNING IN CONVINCING FASHION
All seven of Illinois State's wins during the non-conference season have been double-digit victories. The Redbirds have defeated Missouri-St. Louis, Southeast Missouri State, UNC-Wilmington, Chicago State, Illinois-Chicago, Cincinnati and Bowling Green by an average of 21 points per game.
DOUBLE-DIGITS BECOMING A FAMILIARITY
Against Bowling Green, sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge scored in double figures for the sixth-straight game and for the eighth time this season. He tallied a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Eldridge now has 20 double-digit scoring games in his career.
"O" SO ACTIVE ON THE GLASS
Osiris Eldridge has been the ISU rebounding leader in each of the past three games, and has averaged 11 caroms per game in those contests. Eldridge pulled down 13 rebounds at Eastern Michigan (Dec. 4), tallied nine caroms against Cincinnati and had a game-high 11 rebounds, including a season-high five offensive rebounds, at Bowling Green Sunday. Eldridge leads Illinois State with 46 defensive rebounds this season, and his 58 total rebounds ranks second overall on the Redbird roster.
ELDRIDGE DOUBLES OVER
Sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge had his second-career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds at Bowling Green Sunday. Both of Eldridge's double-doubles have come on the road; he also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds at Eastern Michigan on Dec. 4.
SLACK FLAWLESS ... AGAIN
For the fourth game this season, senior forward Anthony Slack was perfect from the field Sunday at Bowling Green. Slack was 3-of-3 against the Falcons; tallied a 5-for-5 effort against Cincinnati; was 7-for-7 versus Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 14) and recorded a 5-for-5 tally from the field against Chicago State (Nov. 27). All four games were ISU wins. Slack ranks second in the Valley with a 73.0 field goal percentage.
HOLLOWAY COMING INTO HIS OWN
Junior guard Emmanuel Holloway's production has steadily increased in recent games. In the past four contests, Holloway has averaged nearly 20 minutes (19.8), 6.3 points and 2.0 assists per game. Holloway scored seven points on a perfect 4-of-4 effort from the free throw line, pulled down three defensive rebounds and had a career-high four assists against zero turnovers in 18 minutes at Bowling Green Sunday.
A SECOND-HALF TEAM TO SAY THE LEAST
Illinois State has consistently showed its ability to finish strong this season, as it registered three second-half comebacks to post wins. The Redbirds trailed heading to the locker room against Southeast Missouri State (Nov. 14) and UNC-Wilmington (Nov. 18), and were tied with UIC at halftime. In those three contests, the Redbirds outscored the Red Hawks, Seahawks and Flames by a combined score of 143-75 in the second half. ISU has outscored seven of its 10 opponents in the second half this season.
ODZIC ON DECK
USC transfer Sead Odzic will be ready to make his Illinois State debut Dec. 29. It just so happens that will be when Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich will make his Missouri Valley Conference debut, as the Redbirds travel to Creighton. Odzic joined the team last season, but has been forced to sit out to meet NCAA resident requirements.
241 GAMES WITH A TREY
Knock one down against Ball State and Illinois State will extend its streak to 242-straight games with at least one made three-point field goal. The last time ISU failed to convert a three was in an 82-43 loss at Creighton Dec. 12, 1999.
SLACK ATTACK
Anthony Slack, the league leader in blocked shots, isn't cutting ISU's opponents any slack so far this season. Through 10 games, Slack has posted a team-best 25 blocked shots. He is averaging 2.5 blocks per game, which would rank as the second-highest blocked shots average in a single season at ISU. Slack has tallied three or more blocks five times this season, including four swats apiece against UNC-Wilmington and Indiana.
FULL-SERVICE SLACK
Anthony Slack's accomplishments to the start of his senior season have been well documented. But one area left untouched has been his accuracy from the field. Slack is shooting 73.0 percent from the field this season, converting 46 of his 63 field goal attempts. It's early, but the school record for single-season field goal percentage is 64.8 percent by Tony Holifield during the 1987-88 season.
THREE-BALLING
After 10 games, the Redbirds are anything but shy about shooting from beyond the arc. Illinois State has shot significantly more threes than its opponents (218 tries, compared to 151). The Redbirds are also averaging 8.5 made treys per game, which is 4.0 more than their opponents (4.5).
POINT N' SHOOT
It seems to be a recent trend in Redbird basketball - a higher field goal percentage equals wins. So far this season, the Redbirds have outshot their opponent in seven games and all seven resulted in ISU victories. The three games that the Redbirds had the lower field goal percentage ended up being defeats.
THESE GUYS CAN SHOOT IT
Ten games into the season, four of Illinois State'starters are shooting at better than a 40-percent clip from the field. Anthony Slack has a 73.0 shooting percentage; Osiris Eldridge is shooting 47.8 percent; Dom Johnson is shooting at a 45.5 percent clip and Levi Dyer is shooting 41.0 percent from the field this season. Slack (61.6), Dyer (45.0) and Eldridge (41.6) are all shooting better than 40 percent for their respective careers.
