Feb. 4, 2009
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NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and rallied for a 60-57 overtime win at Southern Illinois, as Dinma Odiakosa's tip-in with 22 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner in Missouri Valley Conference action Wednesday night at SIU Arena.
The win was ISU's second-straight at SIU Arena, which had not happened by a Redbird team since the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons, and it also snapped the Redbirds' four-game road losing streak. With the win, ISU improved to 19-4 overall and 8-4 in the Valley. SIU dropped to 10-13 and 5-7, respectively.
Trailing 29-20 in the second half, ISU used a 9-0 run, including five points by Champ Oguchi, to tie the game, 29-29, with 15:18 remaining. The Redbirds were not able to take the lead until the 8:01 mark in the second half, when Osiris Eldridge converted a pair of free throws to give ISU a 42-41 lead, its first since the 12:33 mark of the first half.
Southern Illinois appeared to have ISU on the ropes, as the Salukis rattled off eight-straight points to take a 49-41 lead. However, SIU failed to score in the final 5:17 of the second half, while the Salukis' two leading scorers, Kevin Dillard (20) and Carlton Fay (10) both fouled out. The Redbirds capitalized with seven-straight points and forced the game into overtime.
In the extra period, SIU again took control, but Oguchi's traditional three-point play at the 1:32 mark in overtime gave ISU a 56-55 lead. SIU's Justin Bocot regained the lead for Southern Illinois with a pair of free throws with 38 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Oguchi launched a three-point try, but the ball bounced off the front of the rim and Odiakosa dropped it in on the tip with 23 seconds left. Oguchi added a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining to give ISU a 60-57 lead and Bocot's open three-point try with three seconds left fell short.
Things looked promising in the game's first three minutes, as the Redbirds jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but SIU quickly responded with its own 15-0 run as Illinois State was held scoreless for nearly nine minutes. Osiris Eldridge sank a pair of free throws to break the drought and close the deficit, 15-9, but the Salukis pushed the lead to 10 points, at 19-9.
ISU went 11 minutes and 30 seconds between made field goals and got to within six points twice, but trailed 25-17 at the half. The Redbirds committed 12 first-half fouls and ISU's leading scorer, Oguchi, played four minutes in the first half. ISU was also 0-for-6 on threes in the first 20 minutes and committed 14 turnovers.
Oguchi led ISU with 15 points, while Lloyd Phillips scored 11 and Odiakosa and Eldridge each chipped in 10 points apiece. The Redbirds finished with a season-high 21 turnovers and shot 35.8 percent from the field. SIU finished the game shooting 36 percent from the floor.
Illinois State is back in action Sunday when the Redbirds host Indiana State on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena. The game will be televised on ESPNU and will tipoff at 6:02 p.m.
