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ISU shuts down Chicago State
By Jim Benson
jbenson@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- There are not many guys 5-foot-8 Boo Richardson sees eyeball to eyeball on the basketball court. Chicago State’s David Holston is one of them. | Photo gallery

Yet the way Richardson and his Illinois State teammates blanketed Chicago State during a 10-minute stretch in Tuesday night’s first half made each of the Redbird defenders seem 7-foot tall.

After Holston’s 3-pointer gave Chicago State a 10-8 lead, the Redbirds took off. ISU went on a 25-0 run as Chicago State shot 0 of 14 from the field with five turnovers. ISU cruised from there to an 81-49 nonconference victory before a Redbird Arena crowd of 4,818.

“That was one of our goals to start the game on a roll, shut them down, get offensive and defensive rebounds and run with it from there,” said Levi Dyer, who had his second career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Osiris Eldridge (15), Anthony Slack (14) and Dinma Odiakosa (12) also scored in double figures as the Redbirds tried to forget disappointing weekend losses to Indiana and Kent State in Hoffman Estates.

“I thought we had a very sharp, determined look to start this game which was significant to me coming off the weekend we had,” said ISU coach Tim Jankovich. “I told our guys any time adversity hits, the biggest thing to me is how we respond to adverse situations, losing, injuries, bad lucks or bad calls.

“I was proud, but not surprised, that our guys had a real edge to them tonight when the game started.”

ISU (4-2) won its 10th straight nonconference home game ahead of Saturday’s 7:05 p.m. contest against Illinois-Chicago at Redbird Arena.

Holston came in averaging 27.0 points, tied for third best in the country. He also was No. 1 nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at .587.

While he’s not known as a defensive stopper, Richardson turned into one on this night. He helped hold Holston to a season-low 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting, including 2 of 8 outside the arc.

“Boo did an unbelievable job on Holston, who on film scared me to death,” said Jankovich. “Boo took the challenge, and that was tremendous for us.”

The other key defender for ISU was Eldridge, who came off the bench for the first time this season. John Cantrell, who ended with a game-high 18 points, scored the first eight points for Chicago State (2-5) before Eldridge entered at the 16:55 mark.

When Cantrell scored again, his team was down 33-13.

“They were awfully aggressive and were very physical with us and did a good job playing solid defense,” said Chicago State coach Benjy Taylor. “We got some easy baskets, then they came out a different team at that point. They started going inside against us, and we did not do a good job on their duck-ins.”

Jankovich said Eldridge was late for the team’s afternoon shootaround. Eldridge thought it was study hall time and was working on a paper for a class.

“So it’s hard to be real mad at a guy who was over there trying to better himself academically,” said Jankovich. “I hope he did well on the paper, though.”

The Redbirds did well in most facets of the game Tuesday, although they were outrebounded 41-39 and continued to struggle at the free-throw line (13 of 23). ISU held Chicago State to 29.1 percent from the field (16 of 55) and 19 turnovers.

ISU had 22 assists on its 28 baskets, with Richardson handing out seven. Odiakosa also set a career high in points, making 5 of 7 shots as he and Slack (5 of 5) dominated their Chicago State counterparts inside.

“I started out the year and I really worked on things in the low post, conditioning and strength and all those things,” said Odiakosa, who redshirted last season. “I think I’ve really improved over the last two years.”

The only downer for ISU was a left ankle injury to forward Brandon Sampay on a missed layup with 11:39 left. Sampay hurt the ankle last year in junior college and during preseason workouts. He will have X-rays today.



REDBIRD REPORT CARD

FRONT COURT: B

Anthony Slack, Dinma Odiakosa and Levi Dyer combined for 42 points and 23 rebounds. But Chicago State still grabbed 41-39 rebounding edge.

BACKCOURT: B +

Boo Richardson held high-scoring David Holston to season-low 12 points, while Osiris Eldridge’s defense also shut down John Cantrell.

BENCH: A -

ISU reserves, with Eldridge coming off bench for first time, outscored Chicago State subs 39-8 thanks to eight 3-pointers.

OVERALL: B +

The Redbirds needed a laugher like this after last weekend in Hoffman Estates. The next Chicago team (Illinois-Chicago) won’t be as easy Saturday.

Compiled by Jim Benson

Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports.

Take a look
Illinois State's Levi Dyer, left, goes up for a basket while Chicago State's David Holston, right, reaches in for the ball during Tuesday night's (November 27, 2007) game at Redbird Arena in Normal, Illinois. (Pantagraph/B Mosher)
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Reader comments on this story - 18 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Deadbirds wrote on Nov 28, 2007 6:42 PM:

" All deadbird fans need to get a clue if they think that the deadbirds have a chance in the MVC. They need to cancel the BB program at ISU or put them with a JR College program. "

re: to hmmmm wrote on Nov 28, 2007 5:21 PM:

" Actually, I saw someone write it here so I checked. Nothing wrong with that. Good job changing the subject. Jank certainly knows discipline, am I right? About going to the game, I would rather burn my money than use it to go to an ISU basketball game. "

Re:hmmm wrote on Nov 28, 2007 4:03 PM:

" wow you must have quite a life if you're investigating external websites just to see if any ISU players have gotten into trouble. Get out much? Maybe you should come to a game instead of grumpily sitting in front of your computer all day. "

Ty Webb wrote on Nov 28, 2007 3:07 PM:

" Attendance will pick back up if the team wins consistently. Redbird Arena was usually always packed in the 90s & early 00's, but then the program has been up & down the last few years so the attendance has decreased. Winning will bring the fans back. The next 2 home games are on Saturday nights vs. UIC and Cincinnati. Both of those games should get good crowds. "

Fans wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:33 PM:

" The fan comment is silly. They haven't been drawing well for about 10 years, which makes it a further mystery as to why they put another 7,000 seat arena on the south side. By the way, the Thunder drew 3,000 for a Saturday night game this past weekend! That's still 2,000 less than last night's game. "

not at UCLA's wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:18 PM:

" level yet...you have to be joking with that statement...ISU will never sniff UCLA's status as a Basketball school...win 10 National Championships and then come talking.... "

hmmmmm wrote on Nov 28, 2007 12:41 PM:

" Looks like someone who has previously been charged with DUI doesn't realize a DUI suspends your license, which means you can't drive anymore. Especially without insurance. He really learned his lesson. Check out the McLean County Circuit Clerk website. "

Wheres the fans? wrote on Nov 28, 2007 12:18 PM:

" People has been complaining about the Thunder attendance. You didnt have many more fans than the Thunder gets. And you been playing bb for quite some time. "

to: Wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 12:17 PM:

" What recent arrest are you talking about. I haven't heard of any? "

To: Wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 12:02 PM:

" What player are you talking about being arrested?!? I think you might have the wrong team? "

To: Wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 11:53 AM:

" Look at any basketball program and they always have some easy wins figured into the program. If you are a college basketball fan you should know this. I have been to two games so far this season and this team has really improved over teams in the past. I haven' t seen this much hussle in quite some time. Coach definetly has them going in the right direction. Keep up the good work Redbirds. You have been fun to watch. "

Rdbrdfn wrote on Nov 28, 2007 10:24 AM:

" Folks, what is it you expect from this program with a new coach and several new players? Did you expect perfection in their first 7 games? Get a clue. This team is looking better each game and is going in the right direction, unlike the last regime. We're not at UCLA's level yet, so get a life and give them time to improve. "

a win is a win wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:43 AM:

" but that was some really sloppy basketball from both teams last night, the Redbirds will have to play better against UIC or they will get it handed to them "

wins are wins wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:30 AM:

" get a clue "

re: wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:25 AM:

" It looks like Jank handling the previous matter "internally" worked well. Maybe he will sit out a half whenever they play a really bad team. "

Female Fan wrote on Nov 28, 2007 8:05 AM:

" Way to go Boo!! "

Patrice Lumumba wrote on Nov 28, 2007 7:16 AM:

" Dudes, it was Chicago State! Winning on the road and being an upper division Valley team will be the success standards. "

Wow wrote on Nov 28, 2007 5:20 AM:

" ISU beat another NOBODY. Still no mention of a recent arrest of a player, what credibility you have Benson. "
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