DALLAS - Champ Oguchi isn't Illinois State's big secret anymore. He took care of that in the SMU Tip-Off Classic. | State Football Championships Pick 'Em

"They better know his name," said ISU junior Dinma Odiakosa.

Oguchi, an Oregon transfer, shot down host Southern Methodist in Sunday night's championship game at Moody Coliseum. Oguchi scored 16 points in the last six minutes of the first half and finished with a career-high 28 as the Redbirds took an 84-73 victory for their first tourney title since the 1998 Hawaii Pacific Classic.

Surprisingly, there was no trophy presentation afterwards. That didn't matter to Oguchi, who was named the tournament's most valuable player.

"It feels real good because my parents were here, so they enjoyed it, and it feels even better because we went 3-0 (in the tourney)," said Oguchi, a Houston native who sank six 3-pointers for the seventh time in his career.

ISU improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season. The Redbirds return home for the first time this season to play in the three-day World Vision Invitational next weekend. ISU meets Nicholls State at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Redbirds connected on 13 of 23 attempts from 3-point range, with Oguchi going 6 of 8. SMU (2-2) cut a 17-point deficit to seven on a couple occasions in the second half, but could never get closer.

"This stretch toughened us up and gave the new guys a look at how difficult games are, all games, let alone road games," said ISU coach Tim Jankovich. "It was great trip for us."

It wasn't just Oguchi who did in the Mustangs (2-2), as the Redbirds' starters all scored in double figures for the third game this season.

Lloyd Phillips and Odiakosa contributed 13 points each, while Osiris Eldridge overcame a slow start to score 12 along with Emmanuel Holloway. Eldridge joined Oguchi on the all-tourney team.

The Mustangs' length in their 2-3 zone with 7-foot-1 Bamba Fall, 6-9 Papa Dia and 6-8 Alex Malone caused problems for ISU much of the first half. The Redbirds had trouble getting the ball inside and weren't moving it too effectively on the perimeter. Eldridge didn't make a basket in the first half.

But when Dia picked up his third foul with 5:46 left, the Redbirds - specifically Oguchi - went off.

He sank three 3-pointers, slammed a dunk, had a three-point play and made two others free throws before halftime to give ISU a 34-28 lead.

"Me (Eldridge) and him complement each other very well. If he struggles offensively then I think it's my job to pick him up and pick up the load," said Oguchi. "We had trouble last year scoring. I don't think that's going to be our weakness this year."

ISU gave Oguchi some help in the second half. Phillips' 3-pointer put the Redbirds ahead 49-32 with 14:45 left. SMU guards Paul McCoy (22 points), Derek Williams (16) and Mike Walker (15) got hot and helped the Mustangs cut the lead to seven on a couple occasions.

But ISU made 13 of 15 free throws in the second half to keep SMU at a safe distance.

"Champ was sensational in the first half. He's capable of doing that. I'm hoping that's not the last time we see an outburst like that from him," said Jankovich.

"I'm really proud of Osiris. He played as bad a first half as I've ever seen. When the game started to tighten up, the old Osiris showed up. I thought he was best player on the floor in the last 12 minutes. He competed his tail off."

SMU coach Matt Doherty won his first game with the Mustangs two years ago against ISU, taking a 57-55 victory in Tallahassee, Fla. Doherty saw a different ISU outfit on Sunday night.

"We played a good team, an experienced team," said Doherty. "Give a lot of credit to Illinois State."

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ISU REPORT CARD

FRONT COURT: B

Dinma Odiakosa stayed out of foul trouble and made his presence felt in the second half, but Brandon Sampay had trouble against SMU's size.

BACKCOURT: A -

Champ Oguchi took the Redbirds on his shoulders late in the first half before Osiris Eldridge, Lloyd Phillips and Emmanuel Holloway came alive in second half.

BENCH: C -

Tim Jankovich used the subs quite a bit in the first half before staying with the starters most of the way down the stretch.

OVERALL: B

ISU may never play against a bigger team. The Redbirds have plenty of offensive weapons and walked away with first tourney title (but no trophy) in 10 years.

- Jim Benson

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Summary

Illinois State 84,

Southern Methodist 73

AT DALLAS

SOUTHERN METHODIST

Min….FG….FT….Reb….A….PF….Pt

Williams….31….5-13….5-6….0….5….1….16

Malone….11….0-1….0-0….1….0….1….0

Fall….28….2-6….2-2….8….1….2….6

McCoy….38….8-11….6-8….1….6….5….22

Dia….17….2-6….1-1….5….0….3….5

Haynes….8….0-1….0-0….2….1….1….0

Otis….18….2-3….1-6….1….0….0….5

Walker….20….5-7….0-0….0….0….4….15

Nyakundi….6….1-2….0-0….1….0….2….2

Harp….23….1-3….0-0….4….0….2….2….

Team…………….5…………

Totals….200….26-53….15-23….28….13….21….73

ILLINOIS STATE

Min….FG….FT….Reb….A….PF….Pt

Eldridge….31….2-5….6-6….5….6….2….12

Holloway….26….4-7….2-2….5….4….2….12

Phillips….35….3-7….4-6….4….0….1….13

Oguchi….32….8-11….6-7….5….2….4….28

Odiakosa….27….6-12….1-2….6….0….3….13

Odzic….15….1-2….0-0….0….1….0….2

Thornton….4….0-0….0-0….2….0….3….0

Shipley….2….0-1….0-0….0….0….0….0

Robinson….2….0-0….0-0….0….0….1….0

Sampay….14….2-5….0-0….3….0….4….4

Holtz….12….0-1….0-0….0….0….0….0

Team 1

Totals….200….26-51….19-23….31….13….20….84.

Southern Methodist….28….45 - 73

Illinois State….34….50 - 84

Three-point field goals: SMU 6-15 (Williams 1-5, McCoy 0-1, Haynes 0-1, Walker 5-6, Nyakund 0-1, Harp 0-1); Illinois State 13-23 (Eldridge 2-3, Holloway 2-4, Phillips 3-5, Oguchi 6-8, Odzic 0-1, Shipley 0-1, Holtz 0-1).

Turnovers: SMU 15; Illinois State 17. Blocked shots: Southern Methodist 3 (Fall, Otis, Harp); Illinois State 2 (Sampay 2). Steals: Southern Methodist 6 (McCoy 3, Fall, Dia, Otis); Illinois State 6 (Oguchi 4, Eldridge, Sampay).

Officials: Olson, Edsall, Davis.

Attendance: 2,321

AT DALLAS

ALABAMA ST. 77,

HOUSTON BAPTIST 68

HOUSTON BAPTIST (0-5)-Morris 2-8 1-1 6, Sauls 9-14 3-4 23, Hinnenkamp 0-2 0-0 0, Watt 6-20 8-11 20, Flaherty 1-5 0-0 2, Judge 1-4 0-0 2, Wilson 1-2 0-0 2, Havard 1-4 8-11 10, Dillon 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 22-61 21-28 68.

ALABAMA ST. (1-3)-Provitt 1-1 0-0 2, Hayles 6-9 1-2 16, Brooks 3-11 7-9 13, Kickingstallionsims 4-4 1-3 9, Walker 8-13 1-2 17, White 3-7 1-2 7, Butler 1-2 0-0 2, Mundadi 2-4 1-5 7, Fitch 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 30-55 12-23 77.

Halftime-Alabama St. 46-39. 3-Point Goals-Houston Baptist 3-18 (Sauls 2-4, Morris 1-6, Dillon 0-1, Wilson 0-1, Hinnenkamp 0-1, Judge 0-2, Watt 0-3), Alabama St. 5-12 (Hayles 3-6, Mundadi 2-3, Brooks 0-1, White 0-2). Fouled Out-Fitch. Rebounds-Houston Baptist 40 (Watt 11), Alabama St. 33 (Walker 11). Assists-Houston Baptist 5 (Wilson 3), Alabama St. 14 (Brooks 9). Total Fouls-Houston Baptist 21, Alabama St. 23. A-NA.