Boxscore

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- Illinois State has been hitting big shots all season, and the Redbirds came through in the final minutes Wednesday night at Roberts Stadium, edging the University of Evansville 49-47.

Illinois State remains in second place in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference at 11-5, and is 19-8 overall.  The Aces dropped to 8-18 overall and 3-13 in the league, but almost won their third straight Wednesday night game despite not having second leading scorer Jason Holsinger.  He missed his third consecutive game with a fractured right hand.

The Aces took a 27-20 halftime lead, but the close second half came down to the final two minutes.  Nate Garner put Evansville up 46-45 with 1:07 to play with two free throws, but Dinma Odiakosa gave the Redbirds the lead for good with a layup to make it 47-46 with 43 seconds remaining.  Illinois State then held the Aces scoreless on the next posession, and went up 49-46 with 11 seconds to go on Anthony Slack's two free throws.  Shy Ely was then fouled before Evansville could attempt a three-pointer.  He made his first free throw, missed his second on purpose, but the Redbirds came down with the rebound.  Despite a missed free throw by Osiris Eldridge with four seconds to go, Ely's 35 footer wouldn't go in and Illinois State held on for its 11th MVC win.

"Rebounding was a difference in the second half," said Evansville coach Marty Simmons.  "Our guys have been playing better defensively.  It's tough to score enough points right now, but I'm still proud of the effort our guys put forth."

Illinois State won the game despite shooting 30 percent, compared to Evansville's 42 percent shooting.  Guards Emmanuel Holloway and Boo Richardson led the Redbirds with 10 points each, Slack added nine points and 12 rebounds, and Osiris Eldridge added eight points and 10 rebounds.  Sophomore guard Darin Granger led the Aces with 15 points, and junior forward Nate Garner added 10 points and nine rebounds.