Southern Illinois University
14-4 9-1
Wichita St.
11-7 6-3
Men's Basketball Routs Wichita State, 94-59
02/01/2003 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb 1, 2003
WICHITA, Kan. - Southern Illinois routed Wichita State, 94-59, to claim its most impressive road win of the season and its most lopsided road victory in 13 years.
The Salukis (14-4, 9-1) led by eight at halftime, but dominated the second half, outscoring the host Shockers, 52-25. They shot a sizzling 68 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes, while holding Wichita State to 33 percent shooting.
Darren Brooks, one of five Salukis to score in double figures, had a career-high 25 points and also tied a school record with six steals.
Southern's defensive intensity keyed the victory, as it hounded the Shockers into 22 turnovers and closed off the passing lanes in recording 14 steals.
Leading by six early in the second half, the Salukis went on an 11-2 run that began with a back door layup by Brooks, and featured a layup by Stetson Hairston, a baseline jumper by Josh Warren and a 3-pointer by Kent Williams to grab a 53-38 lead with 15:21 left in the game.
The Shockers came as close as 13, on a layup by Paul Miller 15:04, but the Salukis used a 15-8 run to push the lead up to 20, 68-48, with 11:14 remaining.
Southern's withering man-to-man defense limited Wichita State to just three field goals in the final 10 minutes and held the Shockers scoreless in the last 5:19 of the game.
"It was a night where everything was clicking for us, and nothing went for them," Saluki head coach Bruce Weber said. "We broke their spirit at the start of the second half. It was just a great team effort."
The Saluki bench was instrumental in the win. Reserve big man Brad Korn had 11 points, and Warren added six. Combined, the two shot 7-of-11 from the field. Forward Blake Schoen chipped in a career-high 10 points and five rebounds.
The 35-point win was the biggest margin of victory on the road for SIU since beating Hawaii-Hilo by 35 on Dec. 23, 1989, and the biggest ever against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent.
