Feb. 16, 2009
ST. LOUIS -
For the third time this season and for the fifth time in his career, Illinois State's Osiris Eldridge was named the Missouri Valley Conference's Player of the Week by the league office Monday.
Not only did Eldridge lead Illinois State to a pair of road victories last week, but he scored the game-winning basket at Evansville and posted his fourth double-double of the season at Drake.
The Chicago native led the Redbirds in scoring in each game last week, averaging 16 points and six rebounds per game. At Evansville, in a 70-68 Redbird win, Eldridge drove the lane and laid the ball off the backboard with one second remaining. Surprisingly, that served as Eldridge's first-ever career game-winning field goal at any basketball level.
Against the Bulldogs, Eldridge poured in 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead ISU to a 22-point road victory at the Knapp Center, 67-45.
Illinois State, along with Eldridge, returns to action Wednesday night when the Redbirds host Wichita State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Coincidentally, Wichita State's Toure' Murry was named the leagues' newcomer of the week.
