March 1, 2008
Box Score in PDF Format 
NORMAL, Ill. -
Sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge poured in 27 points on 9-of-20 shooting to lead a defensive-minded Illinois State men's basketball team (22-8, 13-5 MVC) to a 57-49 win over host Southern Illinois in front of 9,345 fans at SIU Arena Saturday night. The Redbirds handed the Salukis just their second loss against a visiting Missouri Valley Conference foe since 2001, and swept their fifth Valley opponent this season. ISU also finishes the MVC regular season with 13 wins, its largest league victory output since the 1997-98 NCAA Tournament season.
Eldridge's 27 points led all scorers, while Boo Richardson (7 points), Emmanuel Holloway (6) and Anthony Slack (6) aided in a total of seven Redbirds getting into the scoring column. Dinma Odiakosa's nine rebounds led ISU. SIU was led by Randal Falker's 18 points and 14 rebounds in his final regular-season game at SIU Arena.
ISU forced SIU into turnovers on each of its first three possessions. Neither team scored until the 17:41 mark, when Eldridge split one-of-two free throws. At the first media timeout, the Redbirds held a slim 5-2 advantage. The stretch continued over the ensuing four minutes, as both teams tallied two field goals, and the Redbirds led, 9-6, at the second media timeout (11:42). Four Redbirds recorded field goals in the early going, with Eldridge's three points leading the way.
ISU stretched its lead to seven points (16-9) in the next four-minute period, but SIU's Tony Boyle and Tyrone Green tallied back-to-back field goals to pull within three, 16-13, with 7:08 remaining in the opening stanza. The Redbirds forced the Salukis into their first timeout of the game just 1:12 later, after going on a 4-1 spree out of the media timeout to take a 20-14 lead. Richardson and Eldridge each had field goals to spearhead the run.
The Salukis finished the frame on a 6-4 run, and pulled within one point (24-23) heading into the locker room at halftime. Falker scored five of SIU's final six points. The Redbirds were held scoreless for the final 2:50 of the half. SIU held a 20-16 first-half rebounding advantage, but the Redbirds shot 41.2 percent (8-of-19), and held the Salukis to a 31.0 shooting mark.
ISU started the second stanza on a 10-7 spurt, and forced the Salukis into their second timeout trailing 33-29. Eldridge had four of ISU's points in the spree, and Brandon Sampay and Odiakosa added field goals in the post. The Redbirds' lead was trimmed to three (37-34) at the stanza's second media timeout (11:11).
The Redbirds led by as many as seven points in the ensuing four-minute stretch, but the Salukis cut the lead to four, 44-40, with 7:01 remaining after a three-pointer by Matt Shaw. Eldridge had 12 of ISU's first 21 points of the second half. Bryan Mullins and Green each picked up their fourth foul in the spree.
Illinois State took a nine-point lead (49-40) with 5:55 remaining after Eldridge hit his third three-pointer of the second-half. The field goal capped off a 5-0 spurt. At the game's final media timeout (3:28), the Redbirds' lead was eight, 49-41. Each team called a timeout in the next 1:35, and ISU's lead was cut to 51-47 after a jumper by Shaw with 33 seconds remaining. But the Redbirds hit six free throws in the final 32 seconds, including two apiece by Eldridge and Anthony Slack, to seal the win.
Illinois State departs Wednesday for the State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis. The Redbirds' opponent in the quarterfinals will be determined later tonight.
