Nov. 21, 2008
Final Stats
DALLAS, Texas -- Osiris Eldridge and Champ Oguchi poured in 16 points to lead Illinois State in a 77-71 victory over Alabama State in the first day of the SMU Tipoff Classic at the Moody Coliseum Friday.
For the second-straight game, the Redbirds (2-0) held a double-digit first-half lead only to see the game come down to the final seconds. With Eldridge's basket at the 14:18 mark in the second half, the Redbirds held their largest lead of the game, 54-32. However, the Hornets (0-2) responded with 15-2 run over the next five minutes, as ISU led 56-47 with 9:06 left.
With four minutes left in the game, Alabama State cut the Redbird lead to under nine points for the first time since the first half. ASU's Brandon Brooks' buried a three-pointer with 26 seconds left in the game to bring the Hornets to within two points, 73-71. ISU's Lloyd Phillips, who finished with 15 points, and Dinma Odiakosa, who tossed in 13 points, each sank a pair of free throws in the game's final 14 seconds to seal the Redbird victory.
For the first time this season, ISU trailed in a ballgame as Alabama State jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the first two minutes of action. With the game knotted, 11-11, the Redbirds went on a 24-5 run, including eight points by Eldridge over a nearly nine-minute span. Lloyd Phillips three-pointer at the 1:30 mark in the first half gave ISU its largest lead of the first half, 40-20. Alabama State's Roland Fitch sank a pair of free throws with 1:05 left to account for the 40-22 halftime margin.
Brooks led the Hornets with a game-high 21 points, while Chief Kickingstallionsims added 11 points and Andrew Hayles dropped in 10.
Illinois State will be back in action Saturday when the Redbirds face Houston Baptist in the second day of the SMU Tipoff Classic. The start time is 5:05 p.m.
