Normal, IL -- (Sports Network) - Osiris Eldridge tallied a team-best 14 points as the Illinois State Redbirds posted a 61-57 win over the Utah State Aggies in the first round of the 71st annual NIT at Redbird Arena.

Also scoring in double figures for the Redbirds (25-9) was Dinma Odiakosa who dropped in 11 points as the squad tied a school record for victories in a season and will now take on the Dayton Flyers in the second round on Monday night.

The Aggies (24-11) were paced by Jaycee Carroll with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists, but the sharpshooter was a meager 4-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-8 beyond the arc. Gary Wilkinson recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, followed by Stephen DuCharme and Pooh Williams with 10 points apiece.

ISU moved out to a 34-25 lead at the break on the strength of 7-of-12 shooting behind the three-point line in the first half.

The Redbirds dipped to only 2-of-11 beyond the arc in the second half and a mere 34.5 percent from the floor, but Eldridge helped to seal the four-point victory with a pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Also playing a crucial role in the final moments was Anthony Slack who slapped away a pair of shot attempts in the closing moments to preserve the margin of victory. Slack finished the night with eight points, seven boards and three rejections.

USU, which turned the ball over 18 times, recorded only two second-chance points and made a mere 4-of-13 shots out on the perimeter.