Dec. 14, 2008
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NORMAL, Ill. -
Senior guard Champ Oguchi tallied a game-high 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting to lead Illinois State to a 76-70 win over Morehead State Sunday on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. Lloyd Phillips had a career-high 18 points and knocked down three clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds to clinch the win.
Illinois State ran its season-opening winning streak to nine-straight games, which marks the second-best start in program history. The Redbirds need just three more wins to tie the 1977-78 ISU team's record of 12-straight wins to start a season.
Illinois State (9-0) went 23-of-59 from the field for 39.0 percent in the game, and only committed seven turnovers. Emmanuel Holloway (13), Oguchi (25) and Phillips (18) all found themselves in double-digits in the scoring column, while Dinma Odiakosa grabbed a team-high eight boards. The Redbirds held a 22-3 advantage on points off of turnovers.
Leon Buchanan (12), Kenneth Faried (12), Robert Murry (20) and Demonte Harper (10) all scored in double-figures for Morehead State (3-7). Faried had a game-high 13 rebounds and recorded his fifth double-double of the year. The Eagles out-rebounded the Redbirds, 45-33, while recording six blocks.
Illinois State faced its largest deficit of the year early in the first half, after Morehead State jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game. The Redbirds responded behind the reins of Oguchi, who went 3-for-6 from the field and tallied 11 points, to lead the Redbirds to a 17-5 run.
The Eagles mounted a comeback of their own and regained the lead, 29-28, after Terrance Hill knocked down a three-pointer at the 5:23 mark. The lead was short lived, however, as Oguchi knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Redbirds back on top, as ISU secured a 38-37 halftime lead.
Morehead State came out in the second half and scored four quick points to grab a 41-38 lead after a Maze Stallworth layup and a pair of free throws from Buchanan. The lead evaporated quickly after Oguchi and Phillips combined for six quick points and regained the lead, 44-41, with 17:37 to play.
Illinois State tied its largest lead of the game, 71-64, after Phillips connected with Brandon Sampay underneath the basket, who made three points the traditional way. With 34 seconds to go and Illinois State up 73-70, Osiris Eldridge came up with a clutch steal and found Phillips, who scored a pair of free throws to secure the win.
The Redbirds will return to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday when they travel to Mt. Pleasant, Mich., to face Central Michigan.
