Feb. 18, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
After recording two dominating scoring efforts in Illinois State's home-road Missouri Valley Conference split last week, sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge was named the Valley Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. It is Eldridge's second- career player of the week honor, and the third time he has been recognized by the conference office in a weekly plaudit. He was tabbed the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Feb. 26, 2007.
Eldridge, the 2007 MVC Freshman of the Year, averaged 29.0 points, 6.0 three-point field goals, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game on a 60.6 shooting percentage against Missouri State and Indiana State last week. The Redbirds defeated the visiting Bears (69-57) Wednesday, and dropped a 76-72 road decision Saturday against the Sycamores.
Against the Bears, Eldridge scored a game-high 24 points for the second-consecutive game, going 8-of-15 from the field, including a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the three-point arc. He also hit 3-of-4 free throws, added three rebounds, dished out three assists and tallied two steals in 30 minutes of action.
In Saturday's setback at Indiana State, Eldridge poured in a career-high 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting, hitting 7-of-9 three-pointers. He also went 3-of-3 from the free-throw line, pulled down three rebounds and dished out two assists in 32 minutes. It was Eldridge's second 30-point effort this season. His 12 field goals were also a career-best mark.
For the week, Eldridge totaled 58 points on 20-of-33 shooting (.606), including a 12-for-18 (.667) three-point shooting effort, went 6-of-7 from the charity stripe, corralled six rebounds, had five assists and tallied three steals in an average of 31.0 minutes per game.
Eldridge was also named the MVC Player of the week on Nov. 19 after averaging 28.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in home wins over UNC-Wilmington and Southeast Missouri State. Levi Dyer received the nod on Dec. 31.
