Jan. 1, 2008
Box Score in PDF Format 
WICHITA, Kan. - Illinois State put three players in double figures, highlighted by Osiris Eldridge's 11 points and eight rebounds, as the Redbirds grinded out a 49-46, defensive-minded win over host Wichita State at Charles Koch Arena Tuesday night. ISU extended its winning streak to five games, including four straight on the road, and remained unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference playing heading into a four-game homestand.
Boo Richardson and Emmanuel Holloway each scored 10 points to join Eldridge in double figures. The Shockers were led by PJ Cousinard and Phillip Thomasson, who scored 10 points apiece in the losing effort.
Wichita State controlled the early stages of the first half, jumping out to a 9-4 lead at the first media timeout (14:41). Couisnard jumpstarted the flurry by scoring the Shockers' first five points. ISU evened the score at 9-9 with 12:25 remaining in the opening half after Holloway hit his second-consecutive field goal.
Both teams traded baskets over the ensuing 5:20, as Wichita State held a slim 17-16 edge at the third media timeout (7:05). Levi Dyer had a three-pointer, and Eldridge and Richardson added field goals in the spurt. Dom Johnson converted a three-point out of the break to give the Redbirds a 19-17 lead, their largest of the half.
Thomasson answered with a conventional three-point play, and gave the Shockers a 20-19 lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the stanza. Each team scored four points in the final four minutes of the frame, and WSU took a 24-23 lead into the locker room at intermission.
Holloway scored a team-high seven points for ISU, while Couisnard countered with 11 points on five field goals. WSU held a 17-16 halftime rebounding advantage, but the Redbirds outshot the Shockers, 41.7 percent to 33.3 percent.
Illinois State opened the second half on a 9-0 run after three-consecutive three-point field goals. Johnson started the spree, and Richardson followed with back-to-back treys in transition, pushing ISU's lead to eight, 32-24, with 14:52 remaining. Wichita State didn't record a second-half field goal until the 13:27 mark, when JT Durley scored in the paint, and drew a foul on Slack.
Wichita State trimmed ISU's lead to 37-33 with 7:46 remaining after going on a 9-5 run. Durley had five of the Shockers' points in the stretch, but Slack answered with four points for the Redbirds.
ISU held at least a four points lead for the ensuing six minutes, before the Shockers pulled within one, 44-43, after a missed free throw putback by Thomasson. But Johnson answered with a three, extending the advantage back to two possessions, 47-43, with just 1:03 left. After recording a defensive stop and drawing another WSU foul, Brandon Sampay went 1-of-2 from the free throw line, and Richardson tallied a steal following the Shockers' defensive rebound.
But WSU stole the ball back, and Couisnard answered with a transition three to cut the lead to 48-46. Eldridge hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe on the other end, and Gal Mekal's potential game tying three pointer at the buzzer fell short, as ISU recorded the 49-46 victory.
Illinois State will have four-consecutive league games at home beginning Saturday against in-state rival Southern Illinois. Tip-off from Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena is set for 7:05 p.m.
