Tisdale stands even taller as Illini win title game
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - In 7-foot junior center Jerome Jordan, Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik believes he has an NBA first-round pick.
If that's the truth about the athletic Jamaica native, then what's the ceiling for Illinois country kid Mike Tisdale?
The 7-foot-1 Illini sophomore center scored the game's final 4 points to lead Illinois to a 48-44 triumph on Saturday night in the South Padre Island Invitational title game.
Despite failing to make a 3-pointer for the first time in 376 games - a streak that stretched to November 1997 - Illinois (6-0) is off to its best start since 2005.
Tisdale broke a 44-44 tie by posting up Jordan, faking right and then spinning for a short lefty bank with 1:15 to go.
On Illinois' next possession, Weber called for a double screen set on Tisdale's behalf.
He stepped out just above the free-throw line, waited for the pass from Demetri McCamey, and nailed a 17-foot jumper to all but clinch the game with 22 seconds to go.
Tisdale finished with a team-high 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Jordan had 11 points, 12 rebounds and 1 block.
"You've got to go out and try to prove who you are and everything like that," Tisdale said. "He's a big name. Hopefully, I did well."
Considering the Riverton native received the tournament's most valuable player award, it's fair to say so.
Senior guard Chester Frazier, who wasn't expected to play due to a deep thigh bruise, contributed 4 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds in 36 minutes.
He also limited Tulsa top scorer Ben Uzoh to 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting.
"Chester did an unbelievable job on Uzoh," Illini coach Bruce Weber said. "He had a little (late) run there, but we changed how we guarded the ball screen and Chester got him frustrated.
"He airballed and threw it away down the stretch. That was key."
Uzoh's floater gave Tulsa a 43-42 edge with 4:11 to go. But the Golden Hurricane (4-2) had just 1 free throw the rest of the way as it got nothing out of its final six possessions.
McCamey (8 points) joined Tisdale, Frazier, Uzoh and Jordan on the all-tourney team.
Illini sophomore center Richard Semrau contributed a career-high 9 points off the bench, while Calvin Brock added 7.
Despite playing their second game in 28 hours, the Illini went with just seven players in the second half.
"I wish we could stay another day in the sun," Weber said, "but we've got to go back."
There's no time to relax because Illinois hosts Clemson (7-0) on Tuesday in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup that looks much more intriguing than when it was scheduled.