Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball Wins Second Exhibition Game 95-52
11/14/2004 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2004
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
Listen to Postgame Press Conferences
Chris Lowery | Randal Falker/Josh Warren | Jamaal Foster
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The future of Saluki basketball is looking bright as three freshmen played significant minutes and each scored in double figures in an exhibition victory.
Jamaal Foster scored 14 points, Randal Falker added 13, and Matt Shaw put up 11 as the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team trounced Lincoln University 95-52 Sunday at SIU Arena.
"We really played great team defense tonight," said SIU head coach Chris Lowery. "We were helping each other and trusting our teammates. So, it was a great defensive effort."
The game slowed down a bit because of the 49 fouls that were called on both teams combined. The Saluki defense was swarming once again, but the officials did not seem to budge on calling every little thing that happened.
"I think how we play is different from a lot of people because it's very physical," Lowery said. "In the beginning of the game, they're always going to try to clean it up and make it a finesse game. We try to have a football mentality always.
"We're still going to be tough, and fly around, and make the refs change to how we play."
The crowd of 4,792 seemed impressed by the new Saluki big men, and Lowery was pleased as well.
"I think you saw how athletic we are up front," Lowery said. "People have to be excited about those young guys."
Foster was glad to have the two preseason games out the way, and he admitted to having the freshman jitters at first.
"Last week's game was very nervous for me because it was going to be my first game," Foster said. "I didn't really know how to approach it, but today, I came focused and ready to play."
Falker - a redshirt freshman - looked particularly good but ran into foul trouble late in the first half. Falker scored eight points in the final 4:35 of the opening half - including 4-for-4 from the foul line during that stretch.
"I didn't get to play too much because I fouled too much," Falker said. "We learned from Josh (Warren) last year how to be physical. He beat us up a little bit, but it's all good."
Kyle Smithpeters missed a jump shot with three minutes left in the half, but Falker pulled down the offensive rebound and put it back in as SIU led 37-14. Jamaal Tatum grabbed a rebound and pushed the ball up the court to Darren Brooks for an easy layup as the lead moved to 42-15. Then, Brooks nailed a 3-pointer with eight seconds remaining to put Southern up 45-16 at halftime.
The Blue Tigers played better offensively in the second half, but it was still never much of a game. The Salukis' second unit played together for a large portion of the contest after halftime.
Early in the second half, Lincoln's Kelly Scarver stole the ball and went in for an easy two, but LaMar Owen jumped up and swatted the shot out of the air. Then, Tatum hit a 3-pointer followed by a jump shot - at the top of the key - as he was falling down. This put the Salukis up by 34 points, 56-22, and they never looked back.
After Shaw missed the second of two free throws, Foster tipped the ball in to put SIU up 59-22. Foster scored seven of the Salukis' eight points during the stretch.
"Hopefully, throughout the season, I can continue to help this team win," Foster said. "I'm pleased with the effort I brought today."
The 6-feet-10, 210-pound forward also said there was room for improvement, and that he wanted to gain weight while continuing to play more aggressively.
Young stole the ball from DJ Hogue and went in for a dunk as SIU advanced its lead to 76-42. In the final minute of play, Young passed the ball to Shaw for another dunk as the game's final minute wound down.
Young finished with 13 points, three steals, three assists and two blocks for SIU, and Josh Warren added 11 points. Tatum played just 16 minutes but managed to put up 11 points, four assists and three steals.
"I feel like I'm in pretty good shape right now," Warren said. "Hopefully, I can maintain it throughout the season, if my body will stay healthy for me."
Brooks - who played most of his 21 minutes in the first half - scored 10 points with three steals and three assists. Owen was all over the court - as is the norm with him - and scored 10 points with a pair of blocks.
SIU shot 29-of-42 from the foul line - a stark contrast from only shooting three free throws in its first exhibition game.
Hogue led Lincoln University with 15 points - but was only 4-of-13 from the field.
SIU begins the regular season on Sunday against Augustana, Ill., at SIU Arena with a 2:05 p.m. start. The game is part of the Las Vegas Invitational.
