Jan. 23, 2008
Box Score 
PEORIA, Ill. -
Senior Boo Richardson scored a team-high 17 points, but a late rally by the Illinois State men's basketball team fell short, as the Redbirds dropped a heartbreaking, 76-75 decision to host Bradley in a Missouri Valley Conference game at Carver Arena Wednesday night. The Redbirds (14-5 overall, 6-2 MVC) dropped their sixth-straight game in the series, as Wednesday's back-and-forth affair included 11 ties and 11 lead changes, as well as 38 total fouls (five technicals).
Richardson led a foursome in double figures, as Dom Johnson (15), Osiris Eldridge (11) and Emmanuel Holloway (10) joined him in double-digits. Bradley was led by Theron Wilson's 20 points, including a career-high 5-of-7 shooting from three point land. Daniel Ruffin, along with three other Bradley players, scored in double figures.
The Redbirds started the opening stanza on a tear, jumping out to an 11-3 lead and forcing Bradley coach Jim Les into his first timeout (16:20). Johnson started the flurry with a three-pointer, and Dinma Odiakosa followed with a conventional three-point play. Richardson followed with a trey and Eldridge dunked after a steal. At the initial media timeout, the Redbirds had an 11-6 edge.
Bradley answered with a 9-3 spurt over the ensuing four minutes, and pulled within 15-14 with 11:45 remaining in the first half. Matt Salley had five points for the Braves in the stretch. Ruffin, a Peoria native, made his first appearance since Dec. 22 due to an injured sports hernia when he entered the game with 13:30 remaining, and brought the sold-out Carver Arena crowd to its feet. The Braves eventually took the lead at 17-15 after a three-pointer by Theron Wilson, but a driving layup by Johnson re-knotted the score at 17-17, kickstarting a quick 6-0 run to give the `Birds a 22-17 lead. At the third media timeout (7:43), ISU owned a 22-20 lead.
ISU forward Anthony Slack, the Valley's leader in field goal percentage, went down with an apparent shoulder injury with 6:14 remaining, and was escorted to the locker room. Following the stoppage in play, BU went on a 7-0 run to take a 31-26 lead, and force ISU into its first timeout (5:08). The Redbirds trimmed the lead to 34-30 at the ensuing media timeout (3:27). Wilson had five points for Bradley in the spree.
The Redbirds finished the half on an 8-3 run, and headed to the locker room at halftime with a 38-37 advantage. Sead Odzic, Johnson, Holloway each had field goals, and Richardson's layup at the buzzer after a missed three-pointer by Levi Dyer gave ISU its first lead since the 6:10 mark.
ISU started the second half on an 11-8 spurt, and took a 49-45 at the initial media timeout (14:46). Eldridge had six of ISU's points in the stretch, including a thundering putback dunk that gave the `Birds a 44-42 lead. Dyer started the half in place of Slack, who's diagnosis was a shoulder contusion.
The Redbirds' lead grew to as large as seven points (54-47) in the ensuing four minutes, before Bradley went on an 8-0 run to take a 55-54 lead with 11:02 remaining in the game. Ruffin had two threes in the first nine minutes of the stanza. ISU re-claimed the lead at 59-58 with 9:15 left, but Odiakosa was called for a technical foul after dunking, and being whistled for hanging on the rim. The Braves responded with a 6-2 run, and led by three, 64-61 at the third media timeout of the second half (7:13).
Bradley extended its advantage to 69-63 with 6:05 remaining after head coach Tim Jankovich was whistled for a technical foul. But Holloway added a three-pointer on the other end, to pull ISU back within one possession.
With 4:28 remaining, Salley collided hard with Richardson, sending him to the floor. Salley was called for both the personal and technical foul, and Illinois State hit four three throws in a row to pull within two, 72-70, with 4:01 remaining.
ISU took its first lead since the 9:15 mark of the second half three possessions later, after Johnson's put back pushed the advantage to 73-72 with 2:30 left.
Bradley reclaimed the lead after two free throws by Wilson with 1:55 remaining. Richardson's driving layup tied the game at 75-75 with 47 seconds left, forcing Bradley into a timeout. After the Redbirds recorded a defensive stop, Richardson was called for traveling upon pulling down the defensive rebound with 12.3 seconds left. Odiakosa then fouled Wilson with eight seconds left, and he hit 1-of-2 free throws to give Bradley a 76-75 lead and eventual win.
Eldridge's potential game-winning shot hit front iron and Odiakosa's put back was unsuccessful as time expired.
Illinois State returns home Sunday to host MVC foe Indiana State in the first game of the regular season home-and-away series. Tip-off on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena is set for 2:05 p.m.
