NORMAL, Ill. (AP) -Senior guard Champ Oguchi turned in a 29-point performance to lead Illinois State to a 65-61 victory over Drake Wednesday.
Oguchi, who had been slowed last week with a back injury, hit 9 of 24 field goal attempts, including 7 of 15 from 3-point range. He had 4-4 from the free-throw line to lift the Redbirds to 15-2 overall and 4-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. He got help from Osiris Eldridge, with 11 points, and Dinma Odiakosa, with 10.
Josh Young and Adam Templeton led the Bulldogs with 12 points apiece. Drake fell to 13-5 on the season and 4-2 in conference play.
The game was a slow starter, with ISU leading only 23-19 at intermission.
But both teams picked up steam in the second half, with the lead changing hands eight times before Oguchi put the Redbirds up for good 63-61 with a 3-pointer with 1:06 remaining and made two free throws for the final margin.
