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All was well at sold-out Redbird Arena on Saturday afternoon. Only one problem surfaced.

Southern Illinois decided it was much too early to call it quits and go home quietly.

The Salukis closed the gap to five with 5:37 left. But the Redbirds sank 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch and made some defensive stops to hang on for a 70-63 victory in a Missouri Valley Conference game before a crowd of 10,200.

"We knew they were going to make a run. Southern is known for their toughness and heart," said ISU guard Lloyd Phillips. "But in games like this in the Valley you have to be tougher mentally and physically. It's not always going to go right."

Champ Oguchi led four ISU players in double figures with 17 points as the Redbirds (17-3 overall, 6-3 Valley) got the bitter taste out of their system from a loss three days earlier at Wichita State.

"That last game, it lit a fire under us," said Phillips, who scored 15 points with four assists.

Yet Oguchi knows the Redbirds must find a way to break a three-game road losing streak on Wednesday when they travel to league-leading Northern Iowa.

"This game on the road at Northern is key for us. It is the most important game right now," said Oguchi, who sank 7-of-12 shots from the field. "We feel if we get that win under our belt, we'll be in a good place."

ISU certainly was in a good place at halftime. The Redbirds shot 69.6 percent from the field in the first half en route to a 42-31 lead. A drive and layup by Phillips, Emmanuel Holloway's 3-pointer and Oguchi's scoop in the lane put the Redbirds ahead 49-31 with 18:18 left.

Southern (9-11, 4-5), which had won four of its five previous games, rallied thanks to Bloomington High School graduate Justin Bocot.

Bocot, a sophomore reserve guard, scored 12 of his season-high 14 points in the final 15:52. He followed a three-point play by teammate Tony Boyle with a layup and two free throws to bring the Salukis within 64-59.

"My shots were falling and Coach (Chris Lowery) kept telling me to take them," said Bocot, who also had eight rebounds and three steals. "I kept making them, so I kept going at it."

Dinma Odiakosa, a 41-percent foul shooter, made both ends of a one-and-bonus with 4:24 left to put ISU up by seven. SIU missed six 3-pointers after that as the Redbirds won in front of former All-American Doug Collins, who talked to the team afterwards.

"One of the big things he said, and we all know but the guys in the locker room don't because none of us knew it at their age, is how fast time passes," said ISU coach Tim Jankovich. "He was here 38 years ago and said it feels like it was a snap and he's a grandparent now. Almost every day I try to remind them how lucky they are, even on their worst day, to play college basketball."

Osiris Eldridge scored 12 points and Holloway 11. Brandon Sampay grabbed nine rebounds and Odiakosa eight as the Redbirds held a 36-22 rebounding advantage. However, ISU committed 17 turnovers.

"We didn't play the perfect game, but we played very well," said Jankovich. "Their pressure bothered us."

ISU held Saluki freshman guard Kevin Dillard, who came in averaging 17.1 points in Valley games, to seven points on 2-of-9 shooting. Boyle (11 points) was the only other SIU player in double figures.

"To bring a team in here with playing mostly freshmen and first-year guys through the guts of the game - and last year bringing a very old team here and getting blown out - we know we've made steps forward," said SIU coach Chris Lowery.

The Salukis get a chance for revenge in 10 days when ISU travels to Carbondale on Feb. 4.

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ISU REPORT CARD

FRONT COURT: A -

Dinma Odiakosa (37 minutes) and Brandon Sampay (28 minutes) set for career highs for playing time. They combined for 17 rebounds as ISU dominated the boards, 36-22.

BACKCOURT: B+

Champ Oguchi, Lloyd Phillips, Emmanuel Holloway and Osiris Eldridge combined for 55 points on 19-of-33 shooting. Holloway and Eldridge put defensive clamps on SIU freshman standout Kevin Dillard (7 points).

BENCH: B

Sampay was needed when SIU went big, and he came through with five points and nine boards. Freshman Jeremy Robinson resurfaced after not playing in last five games, while Landon Shipley held his own in the backcourt.

OVERALL: B+

ISU needed a solid game after loss at Wichita State and got it except for 17 turnovers. Now, the Redbirds must show they can take it on the road Wednesday at league-leading Northern Iowa.

Compiled by Jim Benson