TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Apparently the Indiana State men's basketball team loves playing in overtime. For the second time in two weeks the Sycamores (4-12, 2-3 MVC) outlasted a conference opponent in the extra session. Wearing their throwback uniforms in recognition of the famed 1979 team, Indiana State delivered their best performance of the season on Fan Appreciation Day beating the Illinois State Redbirds 75-70 in overtime. Illinois State (14-2, 3-2) dropped back-to-back Valley games as they picked up their first loss of the season at Bradley after winning 14 straight.
Last year's Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year runner-up, Osiris Eldridge, struggled throughout the game battling flu-like symptoms and only scored seven points, nine below his season average. Indiana State's Carl Richard led a balanced Sycamore attack behind his second career double-double, while Jordan Printy led a strong bench effort scoring a team-high 15 points.
Illinois State started quick, jumping out to a 5-0 advantage, but Aaron Carter got the sellout crowd of 10,200 people on their feet as he nailed a three-pointer from the left corner and ignited a 7-0 Sycamore run.
Champ Oguchi quieted the Sycamore fans as he slammed home two of his game-high 22 points on a fast break dunk, capping a 9-2 run that put the Redbirds up 14-9 and forcedthe Sycamores to call a timeout with 11:45 to go in the first half.
Out of the timeout, Carter nailed his second three-pointer of the game and at the 7:34 minute mark of the first half, Illinois State led 16-12.
Jay Tunnell made a great hustle play, fighting for an offensive rebound while getting fouled on the put-back. Tunnel hit one of his two free throws and Harry Marshall followed with a drive to the bucket to pull Indiana State within three, 18-15 with 6:02 on the clock.
Rashad Reed hit a three-pointer and Marshall followed with a jumper and two free throws after he was fouled with 3:23 left in the half giving the Sycamores the lead at 24-23 for the first time since 15:35 showed on the clock. Indiana State went on an offensive spark just before halftime as Printy made a beautiful pass to Tunnel underneath the basket giving the Sycamores an ever greater lead at 28-23 with less than two minutes remaining in the first period.
Tunnel again got the crowd roaring when he pulled down an offensive rebound and converted a short buzzer-beating jump shot giving Indiana State its largest lead of the game, 33-24 heading into halftime.
The Sycamore defense held the Redbirds to only 36 percent scoring in the half while Indiana State shot 42 percent from the field.
The Redbirds came out of the half time break fast and furious going on a 21-7 run highlighted by Oguchi who scored a quick seven points hitting two jumpers and a three-pointer around a lay-up by Dinma Odiakosa. The Sycamores got a lift from Reed who drilled a three-pointer and Carter put back an offensive rebound.
Carl Richard followed up a miss with a tip-in only to be matched again by Oguchi. Eldridge scored only his third and fourth points of the game as Illinois State tied the game up. Seconds later, Lloyd Phillips gave the Redbirds the lead hitting his second three-pointer of the game and Brandon Sampay scored two of his 13 points as Illinois State led 45-40 with 14:34 to go.
Reed ended the run with a three ball and Richard tied it up at 48 after an assist from Printy with 10:53 left.
Printy rattled home a three pointer from the top of the key giving Indiana State a 53-50 lead with 7:40 remaining.
The Hulman Center erupted after Printy hit his third three of the game and Richard followed that up with a lay-up giving the Sycamores a seven point lead at 60-53 with four minutes left.
Sampay hit a jumper and Oguchi hit a pair of free throws with 1:27 left to make it a one possession game at 61-58. On the following possession, Marshall was called for a controversial charge which was followed up by a Redbird three-pointer tying it up with under a minute left. The game went into overtime following a great defensive stand by the Sycamores.
In the extra period, Richard scored the first two points and hit two free throws giving the Sycamores a 65-61 lead with 3:29 left in overtime. Illinois State answered with Sampay hitting a free throw after getting fouled scoring a lay-up to cut the Sycamore lead to one.
Tunnel increased the lead with an old-fashioned sky hook in the lane to put Indiana State back up by three. Carter hit both ends of a one-and-one that gave Indiana State a 69-64 lead with 2:22 left in overtime.
Odiakosa missed a free throw following a dunk to cut the Sycamore lead to three with under two minutes left. Eldridge then hit two-of-three free throws with 51 seconds left, cutting the Sycamore advantage to one. Printy hit two free throws and Richard one to put Indiana State up five at 73-68.
Printy then iced the game after a great defensive play by Reed who blocked Phillips shot in the lane after Illinois State cut the lead to 73-70 when he hit both free throws with 7.5 seconds left to finalize a 75-70 ballgame.
In the game, the Sycamores shot 44 percent from the field including a 36 percent mark from three-point range. The Redbirds shot 41 percent and 27 percent from long range.
The Sycamores are back in action at home this Tuesday as they take on the conference leading Bradley Braves at 7:00 p.m.
