March 1, 2008
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Osiris Eldridge has a game-high eight points to lead Illinois State to a slim 24-23 lead over host Southern Illinois in the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season finale for both teams at SIU Arena Saturday night. The winner of tonight's game will earn the No. 2 seed in next week's (March 6-9) State Farm MVC Tournament.
ISU forced SIU into turnovers on each of its first three possessions. Neither team scored until the 17:41 mark, when Osiris 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. Boo 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.
