CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) -- Osiris Eldridge scored 27 points to lead Illinois State to a 57-49 defeat over Southern Illinois on Saturday, clinching the No. 2 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Eldridge carried the Redbirds (22-8, 13-5 MVC) throughout the contest as he shot the team into a 16-9 early lead. He connected four times from beyond the 3-point arc and hit 5-of-8 free throws.
Southern Illinois (17-13, 11-7 MVC) couldn't respond to Eldridge's output, despite senior Randal Falker's 18-point, 14-rebound effort. The Salukis were held to 31.6 percent from the field and just 4-of-24 from beyond the 3-point line.
Falker cut the lead to four with a late layup, but Illinois State responded from the free throw line, solidifying its 20-for-29 effort from the stripe.
Dinma Odiakosa added four points and nine rebounds while Anthony Slack finished with six points and eight rebounds for the Redbirds.
Falker was the only double-digit scorer for Southern Illinois.