Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball Beat Bradley, Wins Regular Season Conference Crown
02/25/2002 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2002
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Kent Williams scored 24 points to lead Southern Illinois to an 83-74 win Monday night as the Salukis cut down the nets in victory celebration after earning a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship.
The Salukis (24-6, 14-4) finished the regular season tied with Creighton, which lost to Drake Monday night. However, SIU will be the number one seed in the MVC tournament next weekend because it swept the season series with Creighton.
Southern Illinois got off to a sluggish start against Bradley (8-19, 5-13), falling behind 17-7 with 13:07 left in the first half.
The Salukis then went on a 22-4 run to take control of the game. Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers during the run, and Rolan Roberts drained a pair of hook shots. Williams capped off the scoring burst with a pretty, fast break layup in which he flipped the ball over his shoulder to bank home two points.
Leading 39-29 at halftime, the Salukis extended to a 17-point lead, 67-50, on a 3-pointer by Williams with 7:24 left.
The crowd rose to its feet in wild celebration moments later when the score was announced that Drake had defeated Creighton.
Bradley came no closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Rolan Roberts, who was honored before the game as part of the Senior Night festivities, scored 22 points and had four blocked shots.
