Jan. 10, 2009
Box Score
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Illinois State overcame a pair of insurmountable deficits, but the Redbirds didn't have enough to rally for a third time and succumbed to their second-straight loss with a 75-70 overtime defeat at Indiana State in the Hulman Center Saturday night.
The Sycamores (4-12 overall and 2-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference) had six players score in double figures, led by Jordan Printy's 15 points, to drop the Redbirds to 14-2 overall and 3-2 in the league.
Indiana State jumped out to a 65-61 lead in the overtime period with all four points coming from Carl Richard on a field goal and a pair of free throws. Richard dropped in 14 points for the Sycamores. Illinois State closed the gap to 65-64 on a three-point play by Brandon Sampay, but the Sycamores rattled off four-straight points to take a 69-65 lead with 2:24 left in the extra period.
Dinma Odiakosa was fouled on a dunk, but missed the free throw, and the Redbirds trailed 69-66. On the next Illinois State possession, Osiris Eldridge was fouled on a three-point field goal attempt and sank the first two free throws, but the third and potential game-tying free throw bounced off the rim. Indiana State converted 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to secure the 75-70 win.
Illinois State used a 21-7 run to open the second half which included nine points by Champ Oguchi, to erase Indiana State's nine-point halftime lead and take a 45-40 advantage with 17:22 left in the game. Oguchi finished with a game-high 22 points. Indiana State kept the game close and with the scored tied, 53-53, with 7:36 remaining, the Sycamores used a 7-0 run to build a 60-53 lead with 4:14 left.
With Indiana State up 61-55 and only 2:45 left on the clock, the Redbirds scored six-straight points to tie the score at 61-61. Lloyd Phillips three-point basket proved to the game-tying shot with 56.2 seconds left on the clock. Illinois State had possession and took two timeouts with less than thirty seconds left, but were unable to get a shot off. Indiana State regained possession with 1.5 seconds on the clock, but the inbounds pass was intercepted by ISU's Eldridge to force the overtime period.
The Redbirds missed their first two shots to open the game, but jumped out to a 5-0 lead, after Indiana State missed its first three shots. The Sycamores responded with a 7-0 run and claimed a 7-5 lead at the 15:35 mark, but the Redbirds countered with a 9-2 spurt and held a 14-9 lead with 11:45 left in the half.
Illinois State led by as many as six points three times during the first half with the last coming at the 4:56 mark (23-17). However, the Redbirds missed their last five field goals of the half and Indiana State went on a 16-1 run and claimed a 33-24 halftime advantage.
Eldridge had his 36-game-start streak snapped after encountering flu-like systems prior to tipoff. Eldridge checked in the game's first three minutes, but didn't appear to be himself and scored seven points in 30 minutes of play. Sampay came off the bench to score 13 points for the Redbirds, while Odiakosa dropped in 12 points and Lloyd Phillips added 11.
The Redbirds will return home for two-straight games, beginning with Drake Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
