Jan. 14, 2009
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NORMAL, Ill. - Champ Oguchi hit a career-high seven three-pointers, including the go-ahead basket with 1:06 to play, as Illinois State outlasted Drake, 65-61, on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena Wednesday night. Oguchi notched a career-high 29 points and scored the final five points of the game to help snap Illinois State's three-game skid to the Bulldogs.
Illinois State (15-2, 4-2 MVC) trailed 61-60 with just over a minute left in the contest when Oguchi's three-pointer from the right side fell to put the Redbirds up by two. Oguchi converted a pair of free throws on the Redbirds' next possession and Illinois State's defense held the Bulldogs (13-5, 4-2 MVC) without a field goal for the remainder of the contest.
Osiris Eldridge added 11 points for Illinois State and Dinma Odiakosa joined the duo in double figures with 10 points. Odiakosa recorded his first double-double of the season by pulling down 10 rebounds and the Redbirds held a slim 34-31 rebound margin. Illinois State shot 36.2 percent from the field but connected on 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) of its three-point shot attempts.
Oguchi provided last second heroics in the first half as well, helping the Redbirds avoid a season-low shooting percentage and first-half scoring total with a made three-pointer as time expired to give Illinois State a 23-19 edge at the break. Illinois State shot 28.1 percent from the field in first half, but improved more than 18 percent in the second half.
Josh Young (12), Adam Templeton (12) and Craig Stanley (10) reached double-figures for Drake and Jonathan Cox led the Bulldogs with 10 rebounds.
Illinois State continues its Missouri Valley Conference slate when Missouri State travels to Redbird Arena for a 2:05 p.m. contest Sunday. Current and former members of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team will sign autographs prior to Sunday's game as part of the annual Cardinals' caravan.
