Southern Illinois University
1-0
Augustana College (IL)
0-1
Men's Basketball Wins Season Opener 83-59
11/21/2004 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2004
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
Listen to Postgame Press Conferences
Chris Lowery | Matt Shaw/LaMar Owen | Darren Brooks
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Darren Brooks scored 20 points - and took over the game at certain points in the second half - as the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team defeated Augustana 83-59 Saturday in the season opener at SIU Arena.
Brooks added seven steals, four assists and two blocks for the Salukis (1-0) as they disposed of the Division III opponent in the game's final 15 minutes. LaMar Owen added 13 points and five steals for SIU.
"Coach Lowery told me I needed to make some plays," Brooks said. "He said `you need to take over this game because we're struggling right now.' That's all I tried to do was help my team win."
Brooks even helped out when other players could not get the job done, especially on defense. The reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year was one of three Salukis with at least five steals.
"There were several defensive rotations that were messed up that he covered up," said SIU head coach Chris Lowery. "He understands what it means to win a game."
Owen added, "He's definitely a clutch player. He came out in the second half and sparked the offense."
SIU shot 37-for-59 from the field but just 6-of-11 from the free-throw line. The Salukis hit a remarkable 67-percent of its shots (18-27) in the second half.
Augustana crept to within 12 points twice in the second half, but each time the Salukis stepped up and went on a run of their own. The Salukis were outrebounded 30-28 in the contest.
"We've got five games in eight days, so those young guys need to step up fast," Brooks said. "Inside, we need more rebounding from Randal, Matt Shaw, Foster and even big Josh Warren."
The Salukis made 22 steals and forced a total of 29 turnovers, but Lowery plans on seeing improvement in several areas.
"Their guards were more physical and got the loose balls," Lowery said. "Our guards stood and watched.
"You can't stand around and be tentative, and I think that's what we did."
Owen, Josh Warren, Jamaal Foster and Shaw combined for just 15 rebounds, and the Salukis committed an uncharacteristic 18 turnovers.
"We've talked about the rebounding from day one," Lowery said. "It's obvious that it's something that I've been harping on. People keep saying what better post players we have than Sly and Brad (Korn), but we haven't proven that we have a post player better than either one of them."
Brooks - with SIU leading 56-44 - hit a baseline shot followed by a 20-foot jumper to put the team up 60-44 with 11 minutes remaining. Jamaal Tatum went through a stretch where he scored seven of 12 Saluki points as the lead grew to 26 points, 74-48.
Falker hit Shaw under the basket for a dunk - his second of the game - in the waning moments as Southern put the finishing touches on the victory.
"I think Matt Shaw did a good job scoring, and he finished strong around the basket," Lowery said. "But, three rebounds is not good enough for us when you play major minutes. We are very patient with him, and I think the media is not and the community is not.
"They want him to be a star right now, and he's not. He just will continue to develop."
Shaw scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in 26 minutes of action. Tatum added 12 points, and Tony Young tallied 11 with five steals.
Shaw, of nearby Centralia, Ill., said he did not feel nervous, even though there were fans at the game specifically to see him play.
"Those first two exhibition games helped out a lot with just getting my feet wet," Shaw said. "I just came out and played my game."
In the first half, SIU jumped out to a 22-4 lead. Augustana stayed in the game because of outstanding free throw shooting - 20-for-21 in the game. At one point, the Dawgs passed the ball almost quicker than the human eye could follow. Brooks pushed the ball up the court and passed to Tatum, who threw to Tony Young on the baseline. Young immediately fired the ball under the basket to Owen for an easy layup - and SIU led 28-10.
The Salukis looked sloppy in the first five minutes of the second half, but they were able to bring back the intensity and put Augustana away for good.
"I think we play harder in practice, practically, than we do in games," Owen said. "We're just going to have to come out and feel like we're playing against each other."
Lowery was happy with the amount of playing time the three freshmen logged in the game, despite some poor decisions that were made.
"That's the whole part of being young and playing a lot," Lowery said. "That's the good thing about those guys. They made mistakes, but they played a lot of minutes."
Joe Caricato led Augustana with 12 points, and Drew Wessels added nine - on 9-of-10 from the foul line. Wessels also committed nine turnovers.
The Salukis face Tennessee State on Tuesday at SIU Arena at 7:05 p.m. The game will mark the debut of highly touted guard Mike Dale, of Fairview Heights, Ill., who returns from a three-game suspension. It will also be SIU's last home contest in the Las Vegas Invitational; the team heads to Nevada for the rest of the tournament.
