Ford hits buzzer-beater to lift the 'Birds over the Jays         

[JAN. 3, 2006]  NORMAL -- With the score tied at 50 and just 3.1 seconds left on the clock, the ball was inbounded to Illinois State's Greg Dilligard at midcourt. Dilligard passed off to Dana Ford, who took two dribbles and launched a 40-footer that fell through the net as the buzzer sounded to lift the Redbird men's basketball team to a 53-50 win over the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Illinois State improved to 6-4 on the season, 1-1 in Valley action. Creighton fell to 7-3, 1-1 respectively.

Illinois State opened the game on a 7-0 run, taking four minutes off the clock. Dana Ford sparked the early lead, draining a 3-pointer and then grabbing a steal, returning it for an easy layup. Creighton took its first lead of the half at the 7:30 mark off a Nick Porter trey to put the Jays up 16-15. Playing in his first game after sitting out five contests with a shoulder injury, Creighton's Nate Funk added eight points in the final five minutes to put the Bluejays up 28-23 at the half. Ford led all scorers at the half with nine, and Funk trailed with eight.

Illinois State pulled within two at 35-33 after a missed Neil Plank free throw. Michael Vandello pulled down the offensive rebound and found Nedu Onyeuku in the corner for a 3 with 14:37 left to play. Plank tied the game at 35 at the 11:47 mark with a pull-up jumper in the paint, but a quick basket by Creighton's Dominic Bishop put the Jays up by two.

The Redbirds battled back to take a three-point lead, 45-42, as Brandon Holtz and Plank hit back-to-back 3-point baskets to give the 'Birds the edge with 8:50 left in the game. Taking his second charge of the game with just over two minutes left, Dilligard stopped a Funk drive that would have given Creighton the lead. Instead, Illinois State maintained its one-point advantage (49-48) over the Jays with 2:22 remaining.

Bluejay center Anthony Tolliver hit a seven-foot jumper with a minute and a half left to give the Jays the edge, 50-49. Illinois State's Plank was fouled on the ensuing play and made the second of two free throws to tie the game at 50 with 28 seconds remaining. The Bluejays failed to convert on their next trip, as they turned the ball over with 3.1 seconds left in regulation. Plank inbounded the ball to Dilligard, who passed off to Ford for the final score. Ford's shot fell through the net as time ran out to secure the Redbird victory.

Ford finished the game with 14 points and four steals, while Plank led all scorers with 17 points and six rebounds. Creighton was led by Tolliver's 15-point effort, and Funk added 13 points for the Jays.

In its third conference matchup of the season, Illinois State travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to take on Northern Iowa at 7:05 p.m. on Monday. [See game report.]

[Heather Freehill, assistant media relations director, Illinois State University] 

LDN sports sponsored by: