UDATE: ISU TRAILS MSU 31-30 AT HALFTIME
Todd Froemling, Daily Vidette Sports Editor
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Sports
After saying Dom Johnson was doubtful for the Missouri Valley Tournament earlier in the week, Redbird Coach Tim Jankovich brought him off the bench less than three minutes into the 'Birds opening tourney game against Missouri State.
That was about the only positive thing Redbird fans who'd made the trip to St. Louis saw early on.
ISU opened up offensively looking disjointed and anxious, and MSU built up an early 8-0 lead. While the 'Birds finally got on the board at the 14:40 mark when Anthony Slack redirected a missed Osiris Eldridge layup, the Bears continued to increase their lead, which grew to 11-points with less than 11 minutes remaining in the half.
Luckily, Jankovich had Brandon Sampay on his bench. Especially since ISU's starting frontcourt of Slack and Dinma Odiakosa had to sit out a major portion of the half when they both picked up their second fouls.
Sampay hit the first four shots he took after checking in for Odiakosa at the 9:20 mark and Boo Richardson and Eldridge shook their early game jitters to knock down a few shots each. The Redbirds took their first lead of the game with 5:20 remaining when Sampay fed a wide open Eldridge for a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the 'Birds a 24-23 lead.
Jankovich was as animated as I've seen him this season late in the half when the refs made two calls that went in favor of the Bears. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch and went to the locker rooms for halftime with MSU leading 31-30.
Lamberth led MSU with 10 points and Deven Mitchell, who scored six of the Bear's first eight points, finished with eight.
The Redbirds will need to improve their rebounding on the defensive end if they want to make it to Saturday. MSU pulled down 10 offensive boards and scored 13 second chance points.
That was about the only positive thing Redbird fans who'd made the trip to St. Louis saw early on.
ISU opened up offensively looking disjointed and anxious, and MSU built up an early 8-0 lead. While the 'Birds finally got on the board at the 14:40 mark when Anthony Slack redirected a missed Osiris Eldridge layup, the Bears continued to increase their lead, which grew to 11-points with less than 11 minutes remaining in the half.
Luckily, Jankovich had Brandon Sampay on his bench. Especially since ISU's starting frontcourt of Slack and Dinma Odiakosa had to sit out a major portion of the half when they both picked up their second fouls.
Sampay hit the first four shots he took after checking in for Odiakosa at the 9:20 mark and Boo Richardson and Eldridge shook their early game jitters to knock down a few shots each. The Redbirds took their first lead of the game with 5:20 remaining when Sampay fed a wide open Eldridge for a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the 'Birds a 24-23 lead.
Jankovich was as animated as I've seen him this season late in the half when the refs made two calls that went in favor of the Bears. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch and went to the locker rooms for halftime with MSU leading 31-30.
Lamberth led MSU with 10 points and Deven Mitchell, who scored six of the Bear's first eight points, finished with eight.
The Redbirds will need to improve their rebounding on the defensive end if they want to make it to Saturday. MSU pulled down 10 offensive boards and scored 13 second chance points.
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