Jan. 28, 2009
Box Score 
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Illinois State had three players reach double-digits in scoring, but it wasn't enough as Northern Iowa used an 8-0 run with less than five minutes remaining to claim a three-game lead over the Redbirds in the Missouri Valley Conference race with a 59-55 win at the McLeod Center Wednesday night.
ISU dropped to 17-4 overall and 6-4 in the conference, while UNI improved to 15-6 and 9-1, respectively.
The Redbirds jumped out to a 36-32 lead to start the second half after a field goal by Champ Oguchi and a steal, and a basket, on an inbounds pass by Osiris Eldridge. The Panthers again responded and tied the game, 42-42, with 13:43 left. The Redbirds kept UNI without a made field goal for over six minutes, but only managed to build a 46-43 lead with eight minutes in the game.
UNI used an 8-0 run and took a 51-46 lead, its largest of the game, with 4:40 on the clock. Lloyd Phillips drove the lane for a layup with 4:01 left to close the gap, 51-48. After the two teams traded baskets, Ali Farokhmanesh hit the second of a pair of free throws to give UNI a 54-50 lead with 1:15 remaining. Dinma Odiakosa scored his 10th point of the night on a baseline slam and the Redbirds trailed 54-52 with one minute left in the game.
UNI's Kwadzo Ahelegbe drove the lane with a running layup with 32 seconds left and the Panthers led 56-52. However, Oguchi sank his first three-pointer of the game with 21 seconds on the clock. Ahelegbe made a pair of free throws to push UNI's lead, 58-55. Phillips shook past his defender at the top of the key, but his three-point attempt bounced out. Ahelegbe, who scored nine of UNI's last 10 points, hit the first of two charity shots to secure the UNI win.
The two teams played to a 32-32 tie in the game's first 20 minutes with three lead changes and five ties. Illinois State led by as many as five points three times in the first half thanks to Emmanuel Holloway's nine first-half points and six first-half rebounds.
Oguchi led the Redbirds with 11 points, while Odiakosa and Phillips each tossed in 10 apiece. Eldridge was held to four points on 2-for-8 shooting. UNI's Farokhmanesh tossed in a game-high 17 points, while Ahelegbe finished with 13 points and Lucas O'Rear added 10.
The Redbirds will be back in action Saturday afternoon against Interstate-74 rival Bradley in front of a sold out crowd on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
