The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

NORMAL - The message to Dinma Odiakosa was clear. "I told him you have to be like me out there. He picked up the slack," said Anthony Slack, smiling at his pun.

Clutch Shotrescues Isu

NORMAL - The guy his teammates call "O" wasn't going to come up empty again. For four days - four long days - Osiris Eldridge replayed it in his mind. He badly missed a last-second shot against archrival Bradley that could have won the game for Illinois State's basketball team.

Hittin' the Road: Redbirdsdominate Away From Home

WICHITA, Kan. - No place like home? Missouri Valley Conference schools are learning that adage doesn't hold true for the Illinois State women's basketball team. The Redbirds tied the school record with their 11th straight road win with a 71-53 league win Sunday over host Wichita State. The victory extended ISU's overall win streak to 13, second longest in school history.

Win Over Wildcatshas Illinois Smiling

CHAMPAIGN - In a season with not much to feel good about, Illinois found its first Sunday night basketball game to be something worth celebrating. Trent Meacham scored 18 points, and Illinois delivered one of its most consistent performances of the year in a 70-37 rout of Northwestern at the Assembly Hall.

Icehawks Blitz Reeling Thunder

BLOOMINGTON -Bloomington PrairieThunder coach Derek Booth needed only four words Sunday to describe the state of his reeling team. "It's devastating right now," Booth said.