Drive pound Phoenix, move to 9-0

Central Illinois Drive guard Rodney Edgerson waits for a free throw against the St. Louis Phoenix on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012, at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. (Photo by Nyck Brooks/Drive Basketball)

BLOOMINGTON – The Central Illinois Drive, presented by Sonic, found themselves in an unfamiliar position early in their game against the St. Louis Phoenix on Saturday – down by 9 points before the fans even got comfortable in their seats.

But Central Illinois used a huge second quarter to make up the deficit and soar to a 17-point halftime lead, en route to a 130-109 win in front of 2,135 fans at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The Drive outscored the Phoenix 40-19 in that second quarter, as Illinois State product Anthony Slack gave the Drive their first lead on a thunderous tomahawk dunk with 10:27 left in the first half. Slack finished with a season-high 17 points to go along with 9 rebounds.

Rodney Edgerson again led the Drive in scoring with 20 points, as the Drive had eight players in double figures. Kennard Davis had 22 for St. Louis, which dropped to 0-5.  The Phoenix hit 15 3-pointers, most of them late, on 56 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Next up for the Drive are the 4-3 Chicago Muscle on Thursday at the Coliseum.

Drive coach AJ Guyton spoke with WJBC’s Craig Fata following the win:

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