Feb. 27, 2008
Final Stats |
Notes
NORMAL, Ill. -
Anthony Slack wasn't leaving Redbird Arena in his final regular season game without a win. The Redbird senior forward tallied the most dominating performance of his career, scoring 15 points to go along with a career-high 20 rebounds to lead Illinois State (21-8, 12-5 MVC) to a 68-54 win over visiting Creighton on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Wednesday night. Slack's 20 caroms were the most a Redbird has had in a Missouri Valley Conference game and a game at Redbird Arena. Illinois State clinches at least a share of second place in the Valley and ends the regular season with a 15-1 record at home.
Senior teammate Levi Dyer also chipped in 13 points on three three-point field goals and four free throws, recording his first double-digit scoring effort since Jan. 5 against Southern Illinois. Guard Boo Richardson, also playing in his final regular season contest at home, added 13 points and seven assists. Creighton was led by Booker Woodfox's 12 points.
Illinois State outrebounded Creighton, 45-24, including a 20-6 advantage on the offensive glass. The Redbirds made the most of all of their offensive rebounds by scoring 27 second chance points.
The Redbirds started the game with a flurry of threes, two of which came from Dyer. Sophomore Osiris Eldridge, who also had a game-high 15 points, added back-to-back treys to give ISU the early 12-7 lead. But after a media timeout (15:45), the Bluejays answered with a 9-3 run, and took a 16-15 lead after P'Allen Stinnett's steal and ensuing dunk.
Creighton led by as many as five points (22-17) in the next two minutes, before the Redbirds mounted an 11-6 spree, and took a 28-26 lead after sophomore Dinma Odiakosa tipped in a miss with 4:01 remaining in the opening stanza. Slack was dominant in the stretch, scoring six points, corralling three rebounds, and adding one block and one steal.
The Bluejays ended the half on a 5-3 spurt, and tied the game at 31-31 after Woodfox hit a three-pointer from the corner with less than five second remaining.
The Redbirds dominated the boards in the first half, holding a commanding 24-10 rebounding advantage. Slack ended the half with 10 caroms, including four on the offensive end. Creighton's 50 percent shooting mark (13-of-26) kept the margin close.
ISU opened the second half on an 8-5 run, and took a 39-36 with 15:16 remaining after Dyer hit his third three-pointer, forcing Creighton head coach Dana Altman into his first timeout. The Bluejays cut the lead to three (39-36) just one possession later, but the Redbirds responded with an 11-3 run, and took a 50-39 lead with 12:03 remaining after Boo Richardson scored his fifth-straight point following a steal and coast-to-coast transition layup.
ISU led by double-digits for most of the remainder of the game, extending their cushion to a game-high 16 points when Eldridge connected on a pair of free throws at the 1:59 mark.
Illinois State will wrap up the regular season Saturday, when the Redbirds visit Southern Illinois at SIU Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game is being televised as part of MVC "Wildcard Weekend," and will clear live on FSN Midwest.
