Jan. 24, 2009
Notes |
Game Photo Gallery 
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Will Robinson Tribute Photo Gallery | 
Statue Presentation
Doug Collins Reacts to Statue Presentation | 
Franke Gift Funds Robinson-Collins Statue
NORMAL, Ill. - Champ Oguchi scored a game-high 17 points, including 10 straight for Illinois State in the first half, to help the Redbirds top Southern Illinois, 70-63, on Doug Collins Court at a sold-out Redbird Arena Saturday. The Redbirds remain undefeated at home during the season and improved to 5-3 overall in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Oguchi was one of four Redbirds in double-figures and was joined by Lloyd Phillips (15), Osiris Eldridge (12), and Emmanuel Holloway (11). Brandon Sampay pulled down a game-high nine rebounds and Dinma Odiakosa added eight, as Illinois State out-rebounded the Salukis, 36-22.
Southern Illinois (9-11, 4-5 MVC) scored the first five points of the game, but the Redbirds (17-3, 6-3 MVC) stole the lead with a 7-0 run and pushed it to 17-11 by the mid-point of the first half. Oguchi connected on a jumper, a lay-up and a pair of three-pointers to single-handedly extend the Illinois State lead to 27-16 at the 7:25 mark. Illinois State shot 69.6 percent in the first half and led 37-28 at the break.
In the second half, Illinois State pushed its lead to a game-high 18 in the first two minutes, but Southern Illinois refused to surrender. The Salukis trimmed the Illinois State lead to single-digits with a jumper by Anthony Booker at the 12:16 mark and pulled within five twice during the final five minutes.
Bloomington, Ill., native Justin Bocot led the Salukis with 14 points and was joined by Tony Boyle, who scored 11 points, in double figures. Bocot also led Southern Illinois with eight rebounds.
Former Illinois State head coach Will Robinson was honored during a halftime ceremony, and the Illinois State Athletics Department unveiled plans for a Will Robinson-Doug Collins bronze statue to be placed in front of Redbird Arena this summer.
Illinois State continues its Valley slate with a 7:05 p.m. game against Northern Iowa at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Wednesday night. The game will be broadcast regionally on Comcast.
For more information on the Will Robinson-Doug Collins statue, or for information on Illinois State Athletics, please visit GoRedbirds.com.
