Illinois State-Indiana State Game Notes in PDF Format 
Feb. 14, 2008
STORYLINES
► Illinois State and Indiana State will be playing for the fifth time in the past 13 months. The teams split the season series in 2006-07, and the Sycamores ended the Redbirds' season in the State Farm MVC Tournament quarterfinals last March. The Redbirds recorded a 65-62 home win on Jan. 27 in this season's initial meeting.
► The Redbirds will be seeking their second-consecutive win at the Hulman Center. Illinois State defeated the Sycamores on the road last season (Feb. 14, 2007), 68-53, snapping an 18-game Missouri Valley Conference road losing streak.
► Illinois State is 5-4 on the road this season, including a 3-3 mark in Valley road games. The Redbirds have recorded MVC road victories over Creighton, Wichita State and Missouri State.
► Sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge is averaging nearly 22 points per game (21.3 ppg) over the last three contests. He scored 24 points in each of ISU's last two games (vs. Bradley and Missouri State).
ABOUT INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
► Indiana State University is located in Terre Haute, Ind., and has an enrollment of 10,679. The Sycamores are members of the NCAA Division I and the Missouri Valley Conference.
► The Sycamores finished the 2006-07 campaign with a 13-18 record overall and a 5-13 record in The Valley. Indiana State finished in 10th place in the league standings, but defeated Illinois State, 68-65, in the opening round of the State Farm MVC Tournament. Indiana State fell to Creighton in the following round.
► Head coach Kevin McKenna (Creighton, `93) is in his first year at the helm of the Sycamore program, after spending the previous nine seasons as an assistant at his alma mater. While at Creighton, McKenna helped lead the Bluejays to four NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Creighton, McKenna was the head coach at Nebraska-Omaha for four seasons. A former NBA player, McKenna is assisted by Greg Lansing, Stan Gouard and Lou Guindo.
► Indiana State returns seven lettermen from last year's roster, including starters Gabe Moore, Jay Tunnell and Marico Stinson.
SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES
Indiana State enters Saturday's game in sole possession of seventh-place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 6-8 league mark. The Sycamores are coming off Tuesday's 76-66 win over visiting Bradley, improving to 10-1 at home. Indiana State's lone loss at the Hulman Center this season came against nationally-ranked Drake (83-77) on Feb. 2. The Sycamores rank sixth in the league in scoring offense with 63.9 points per game, and are allowing 65.3 points per game, the eighth-highest mark in the Valley this season. Indiana State ranks ninth in field goal percentage (.416) and is eighth in three-point field goal percentage (.333). The Sycamores rank eighth overall in field goal percentage defense (.452), but rank second behind only the Redbirds in three-point field goal percentage defense, at 34.4 percent. Indiana State is fifth in the league in blocks (3.25 bpg), and ranks fourth in steals (7.13 spg). The Sycamores are fifth in made three-point field goals (6.92).
Sophomore guard Marico Stinson is the Valley's eighth leading scorer, averaging 13.1 points per game. Gabe Moore follows with 11.6 points per contest, ranking 17th overall in the MVC. Adam Arnold has compiled 4.6 rebounds per game, the 19th-best mark in the Valley. Moore is averaging a MVC third-best 4.54 assists per game to pace the Sycamores' offensive effort.
NEXT UP: REDBIRDS TRAVEL TO EVANSVILLE WEDNESDAY
Illinois State will conclude its mini two-game road swing Wednesday, when the Redbirds take on host Evansville at Roberts Stadium, beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Redbirds defeated the visiting Purple Aces, 74-66, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Jan. 12. Evansville is coming off Wednesday's 60-56 win over Creighton. The Purple Aces are 7-6 at home this season, including a 3-4 mark in Missouri Valley Conference games held at Roberts Stadium.
PUTTING A STRANGEHOLD ON SECOND-PLACE
Illinois State's 69-57 win over Missouri State, coupled with Southern Illinois' home win over No. 14 Drake and Evansville's 60-56 upset over Creighton, gave the `Birds a two-game lead over the Bluejays and Salukis, who are tied for third-place in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 8-6 league mark. The Redbirds trail the Bulldogs for the Valley's first-place lead by three games with four remaining. The last time ISU finished second in the MVC standings was during the 2000-01 season, when the Redbirds went 12-6 in Valley play, and finished second behind Creighton (14-4). Illinois State's last regular season Missouri Valley Conference championship came in the 1997-98 season.
REVISITING JAN. 27 IN NORMAL
In the first match-up between the Redbirds and Sycamores this season (Jan. 27), Illinois State enjoyed scoring advantages in the paint (30-22), off turnovers (20-15), on second-chance points (9-5), on the fast break (6-0) and off the bench (15-9). But a combined eight ties and lead changes dominated the game, and the Redbirds needed a late three-point field goal by Osiris Eldridge to secure the win. The Redbirds jumped out to an early 11-2 lead in the opening stages, and appeared to be in complete control. But the Sycamores took a 25-23 lead with 3:16 remaining in the first half after stringing together a 13-3 run. ISU finished the frame on a 6-0 spurt, and took a 33-28 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Redbirds opened the second half on an 8-2 run, and claimed a 41-30 lead at the 16:27 mark. But a three-pointer by Gabe Moore tied the score (56-56) with 5:02 remaining. With the game tied at 59-59, Eldridge sank a three from the corner, giving ISU the 62-59 lead and eventual game-winning advantage. The Redbirds converted three free throws in the final 20 seconds.
SLACK DOUBLES OVER ... AGAIN
Anthony Slack tallied his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds against Missouri State Wednesday. Slack has led the Redbirds in rebounding nine times this season, and now has nine double-digit rebounding efforts in his career.
SPEAKING OF SLACK ...
Anthony Slack did not play against Indiana State in the Jan. 27 game at Redbird Arena, sitting out his first of two-consecutive contests after bruising his right shoulder at Bradley Jan. 23. Since returning to the lineup Feb. 2 at Missouri State, Slack is averaging 11.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
MVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR? O-MY!
While he was not even picked to the preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference team, as end of the Valley season approaches, it is becoming evident that sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge deserves a good, hard look as a MVC Player of the Year candidate. Eldridge is tied for the Valley lead in scoring with 16.0 points per game, and is the league's 13th-leading rebounder, at 5.4 rebounds per contest. He is also shooting 48.6 percent from the field, the eighth-best mark in the MVC this season. Eldridge's 1.40 steals per game ranks 12th overall. In conference play, his 2.50 made three-point field goals per game is tied for fifth in the league. Eldridge has 22 double-digit scoring efforts this season, including 20 in the last 21 games.
ELDRIDGE CHASING SCORING RECORDS SATURDAY
Sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge enters Saturday's game with 399 points this season, and 694 for his career, making him well within reach of eclipsing 400 points this season, and 700 for his one-plus year career against Indiana State. Should Eldridge score one or more points, he would become the first player to score 400 or more points in the same season since the 2004-05 campaign, when Lorenzo Gordon (488) and Trey Guidry (418) both accomplished the feat. Notably, Eldridge also has 199 career defensive rebounds, and is just one carom away from equaling his 200th career defensive board at ISU.
LEVI AND SLACK, TOO
Senior frontcourt mates Levi Dyer and Anthony Slack also enter Saturday's game within reach of securing significant single-season and career milestones. Dyer has 697 career points, and is just three away from equaling 700 points for his career. Slack, who passed the 200-career defensive rebound plateau Wednesday against Missouri State, needs just one defensive board to secure his 100th defensive rebound this season; he is also just three caroms away from becoming the first ISU player this season to grab 150 rebounds.
DISHIN' WITH DOM
While Dom Johnson's contributions to Illinois State's success this season often do not show up in the final box score, his importance to the efficiency of the Redbirds' offense in recent games has been especially evident. Over the past three games, Johnson is averaging seven assists per game, nearly four assists above his season average. He has also taken care of the ball, committing just five turnovers against his 21 assists during the stretch. Johnson's eight assists against No. 15 Drake and Bradley were career-high tying marks.
BIGS PULL THROUGH AGAINST THE BRAVES
Illinois State's front line trio of Anthony Slack, Dinma Odiakosa and Brandon Sampay shot a combined 13-of-14 from the floor in last Saturday night's win over Bradley. Slack scored 14 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting effort, Odiakosa was 5-of-6 for 13 points, and Sampay scored four points on 2-of-2 shooting. The trio outscored Bradley's Theron Wilson, Matt Salley, Rashad Austin and Sam Singh 21-9 in the second half. Slack, Odiakosa and Sampay also combined for 17 of ISU's 31 rebounds.
SAMPAY'S CHARGE
Junior forward Brandon Sampay, who has been the first substitution in each of ISU's last two games, has increasingly become a valuable weapon for the Redbirds offensively. His presence was especially significant at the tail end of the first half against Missouri State Wednesday, when Sampay scored the Redbirds' final six points of the stanza to help push ISU's lead to 13 points (39-26), its largest of the game to that point.
TURNING UP THE HEAT DEFENSIVELY
Illinois State held Missouri State to just a 35.8 percent shooting mark Wednesday night, the Redbirds' lowest opposing field goal percentage since holding UNI to a 31.1 percent mark from the field on Jan. 8. Illinois State's .403 defensive field goal percentage this season ranks second overall in the Missouri Valley Conference, behind just Northern Iowa (.387). The Redbirds are 12-1 this season when holding their opponents to 42 percent or lower from the field. ISU has been particularly stifling when defending the three-point shot, compiling a league-best .331 defensive three-point field goal percentage.
SHOOTING THE LIGHTS OUT
Illinois State has tallied season-high shooting percentages in two of the past three games. The Redbirds tallied a 54.9 (28-of-51) percent shooting mark against 15th-ranked Drake on Feb. 2 despite dropping a 73-70 decision. Last Saturday against Bradley, the Redbirds were 28-of-48 from the field (.583), setting a season-best shooting mark for the second-consecutive game. ISU has shot better than 50 percent in nine contests this season, and is 7-2 in those games.
A NEW FEBRUARY?
Illinois State had a combined 11 wins in the months of December and January. But it is a new month, and in recent history, February hasn't been friendly to the Redbirds. Dating back to the 2002-03 season, ISU has a combined 16-28 record in the month of February. The Redbirds haven't won more than three games in the second month of the calendar year since the 2002-03 campaign. ISU already has three February wins this season.
DOUBLE-DIGIT VALLEY WINS: IT'S BEEN A WHILE
Illinois State enters Saturday's game with a 10-4 record in Missouri Valley Conference action. The last time ISU had at least 10 MVC wins was in the 2000-01 season, when the Redbirds went 12-6 in Valley play. That team went 21-9 overall, advanced to the State Farm MVC Tournament semifinals, and played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
DISHIN' WITH BOO AND DOM
Senior backcourt tandem Boo Richardson (97 assists) and Dom Johnson (84) are both on pace to average at least 3.0 assists per game for the second-consecutive season. Prior to the 2006-07 campaign, the last time two Redbirds averaged three or more assists in the same season was during the 1994-95 campaign, when David Cason (6.8 apg) and Jamar Smiley (3.2 apg) both accomplished the feat.
PASSIN' THE LEAGUE BY
Boo Richardson's 3.88 assists per game currently rank seventh overall in the Valley, while Dom Johnson's 3.36 assists per game are the Valley's ninth-best mark. The only other duo from the same school to rank in the top-10 in assists this season is Missouri State's Justin Fuehrmeyer (3.69 apg), who ranks eighth, and Spencer Laurie, who's 3.35 assists per game are 10th overall. Richardson and Johnson have spearheaded ISU's league-best 1.21 assist/turnover ratio.
REBOUNDING TRIO
Anthony Slack (6.4 rpg), Osiris Eldridge (5.4) and Dinma Odiakosa (5.3) are all averaging more than five rebounds per game through 25 games this season. The last time Illinois State had three players average at least five rebounds per game in a single season was during the 1998-99 campaign, when L. Dee Murdock (6.1 rpg), Sean Riley (5.3) and LeRoy Watkins (5.5) all grabbed more than five caroms per outing.
PERCENT AND PROBABILITY
So far this season, when Anthony Slack attempts a field goal there is a high probability it is going in. In fact it is so high, that if he stays on this pace it would be the highest single-season field goal percentage in Illinois State history. Slack is making 70.7 percent of his field goals this season, which leads the Missouri Valley Conference.
WIN-LOSS ANALYSIS
In Illinois State's 18 wins, the Redbirds have averaged 69.5 points, 8.2 made three-point field goals, 17.3 assists and 7.7 steals per game. Conversely, in ISU's seven losses, the `Birds have averaged 65.4 points, 6.1 made three-pointers, 12.3 assists and 5.0 steals per game.
SECOND HALF LEADS DISAPPEAR IN SETBACKS
In each of Illinois State's four losses in Missouri Valley Conference play, the Redbirds held a second-half lead, including double-digit advantages in both setbacks to nationally-ranked Drake. In those four games, ISU has been out-scored in the second half by the opposition, 168-139, an average of 7.3 points.
DIVERSITY IN SCORING
While just one ISU player, Osiris Eldridge, averages double-digits this season, a balanced scoring attack has helped the Redbirds to their 18 wins. Eldridge (399), Dom Johnson (229) and Anthony Slack (236) have all eclipsed 200 points for the season, and Levi Dyer (184), Dinma Odiakosa (171), Boo Richardson (160) and Emmanuel Holloway (118) have all passed 100 points.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
Illinois State has proven that it can win in many ways through its 18 victories this season. The Redbirds have captured wins when scoring in the 40s (at Wichita State), 50s (Southern Illinois) 60s (Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Ball State, Indiana State and twice against Missouri State), 70s (Missouri-St. Louis, Illinois-Chicago, Evansville, vs. Wichita State and Bradley), 80s (UNC-Wilmington, Chicago State and Creighton) and 90s (Southeast Missouri State).
BracketBusters Game to be Televised Feb. 24 on ESPNU
One week after the ESPN family of networks announced matchups for the sixth annual O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters series, network assignments and game times for the 14 televised contests were announced Feb. 11. Illinois State will take on visiting Wright State Sunday, Feb. 24, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
ISU-SIU Season Finale Completes Wildcard Weekend
After Illinois State's men's basketball team (17-7, 9-4 MVC) put a stranglehold on sole possession of second-place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 72-68 win over rival Bradley, the conference office announced Feb. 11 that the Redbirds will be showcased one more time on the MVC Television Network, when ISU visits in-state rival Southern Illinois Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. The game will clear live on FSN Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago as part of the league's "Wildcard Weekend."
