Dec. 17, 2008
Box Score 
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Illinois State used torrid second-half shooting (62.5 percent), led by Osiris Eldridge's 18 points and a season-best 14 points from Dinma Odiakosa, to sustain its unbeaten start with a 72-69 victory over Central Michigan at Rose Arena Wednesday night.
After shooting 29.8 percent in the first half, Illinois State (10-0 overall) took its first lead of the game 15 seconds into the final frame when Odiakosa flushed the first of his four second-half dunks. Forty seconds later, Odiakosa added another dunk and ISU led 32-29 with 19:06 left in the game.
CMU (3-6) regained the lead and held it until Lloyd Phillips drove the lane and converted a layup to knot the score, 50-50. Phillips followed up with a free throw and an assist to Brandon Sampay, as the Redbirds built a 53-50 lead with 8:12 left. With 4:19 on the clock, ISU pushed the lead to 60-54, its largest of the game to that point. Down the stretch, CMU closed the gap to one point, 70-69, but Phillips sank the second of two free throw attempts and CMU's Robbie Harman's desperation three-pointer fell short. Champ Oguchi added another charity toss for insurance.
Central Michigan jumped out on the Redbirds early by building a 12-3 lead at the 14:46 mark in the first half. The nine-point deficit is the largest for Illinois State this season. ISU closed the gap to 13-10 at the 10:33 mark, thanks to a three-point basket by Phillips and a bucket from Sampay.
The Redbirds were held scoreless for nearly four minutes and CMU rebuilt its lead to 18-10 with 7:32 left in the first frame. Eldridge responded for the Redbirds by scoring 10 of ISU's next 12 points and the Redbirds trailed 23-22 with 3:56 remaining in the half. ISU never led in the first 20 minutes and trailed 29-28 at the intermission, marking the first time the Redbirds trailed at halftime this season.
In addition to Eldridge and Odiakosa, Phillips also added 15 points and Sampay scored 11. CMU was led by Harman's 21 points, all of which came off of three-point baskets.
Illinois State returns to action Saturday, when the Redbirds host UIC on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 7:05 p.m.
