Illinois St. 72, Bradley 68

2/9/2008 9:47 PM

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) -Osiris Eldridge scored 24 points to lead Illinois State to a 72-68 win over Bradley in a sold-out Missouri Valley Conference match on Saturday.

Eldridge was 4-of-6 from the 3-point line for Illinois State (17-7, 9-4 Missouri Valley), while Theron Wilson and Jeremy Crouch both had 17 points to lead Bradley (14-11, 7-6 Missouri Valley Conference).

Bradley led 33-31 at the half, but Illinois State came back from the break to outscore the Braves 41-35 in the second period.

The lead flip-flopped three times during the game, with Bradley leading by as many as 12 during the first period and Illinois State up by 10 in the second. The score was tied four times.

Illinois State leaned on its bench for 13 points, while Bradley saw no scoring from its bench but was able to convert 20 points off turnovers.

Anthony Slack had 14 points and Dinma Odiakosa chipped in 13 for the Redbirds. Daniel Ruffin had 16 for the Braves.

The win breaks a six-game losing streak for Illinois State against Bradley.