Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Missouri Southern
Men's Basketball Wins First Exhibition Game 60-50
11/07/2004 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2004
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Salukis may have a new head coach, but their suffocating defense was the same as it was last season as they stepped onto the court for the first time Sunday.
Jamaal Tatum and LaMar Owen scored 17 points apiece as the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team defeated Missouri Southern State 60-50 in an exhibition game at SIU Arena.
The Saluki defense picked up right where it left off last March and forced 33 turnovers - including 24 steals.
"We were hyped up and ready to play," Tatum said. "You play hard, anticipate, shoot the lanes and go for steals."
Darren Brooks did not find his jump shot until late in the game, but the MVC Player of the Year nearly recorded a quadruple-double. Brooks scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished nine assists and had nine steals.
"We probably played Darren a little bit more than you would want to in an exhibition, but I wanted him to get the kinks out," said SIU head coach Chris Lowery. "If you look at his stat line, I think that's a pretty good tune-up."
Brooks played 37 minutes, Owen played 35, and Tatum was on the court for 30 minutes.
"I did get tired out there," Tatum said. "I'm not really used to playing that much. I think my legs will get used to it."
Guards Stetson Hairston and Mike Dale did not play due to suspensions.
Late in the second half, Tony Young stole the ball and passed it down the court to Owen who was alone for a one-handed dunk. This revved up the crowd of 5,405, and SIU led 56-41 with 5:46 remaining in the game.
"That's what I'm all about, just trying to get the crowd going wild," Owen said.
Brooks hit a pair of jump shots - one was a 3-pointer - before Owen took over and scored the Salukis final seven points. The Dawgs did not score a point over the game's last four minutes, which made the contest a little closer than it actually was.
Missouri Southern State made a run to the end the game, but still came up short. Orestus Cavness led the Lions with 15 points and five blocks. Cavness also turned the ball over seven times.
SIU won this game in the first half, but the Salukis actually stole it.
Tatum hit two 3-pointers and made three steals before the contest was even five minutes old. Tatum's third trey put the Salukis up 17-4 midway through the first half.
"Darren did a good job of penetrating and finding open people," Tatum said. "He found me a lot."
The sophomore guard was all over the place - knocking balls loose and picking off passes.
Freshman Matt Shaw blocked a shot on one end and then banked in a short jumper on the other end to put SIU up 21-9. One minute later, Brooks drove the baseline through traffic and fed Shaw for a lay-up as SIU went ahead 25-9.
"I was a little nervous to begin with," Shaw said. "Then, after I got in and made that first play I felt a little more confident.
"I've got a lot of things I need to work on, but I still feel pretty satisfied with the way I played."
Redshirt freshman Jamaal Foster - standing at the top of the key - hit Owen with a beautiful pass for an easy two as the first half ended. SIU enjoyed a comfortable 36-17 advantage at the intermission.
The new players - Randal Falker, Shaw and Foster - each contributed some valuable minutes off the bench. Falker scored four points and pulled down six rebounds. Shaw scored six points with three steals. Foster, a 6-foot-10 forward, played nine minutes with an assist and an offensive rebound.
"I'm pleased with them," Lowery said. "They had a good showing."
Missouri Southern, a Division II school, outplayed the Salukis in the second half. The Lions outscored SIU by nine points, 33-24.
"They have some athletes," Lowery said. "If you let guys get their heads up a little bit they can put runs on you."
One might expect a coach to have some jitters before his first game as the man in the charge.
"I wasn't really nervous," Lowery said. "I was really thinking about not having all of our guys. That made me nervous."
Lowery has his first Saluki win - although it will not officially count - but the real season begins in two weeks.
"I didn't know what it would feel like," Lowery said. "It's like when you do something for the first time ever, it feels pretty good.
"Now that it's out of the way, we've got to move on."
Saluki center Josh Warren did not attempt a shot, but he grabbed four rebounds in eight minutes of action. Tony Young scored three points, had five assists and four rebounds in a starting role.
SIU returns to the court on Nov. 14 at 2:05 p.m. against Lincoln University in another exhibition game at SIU Arena.
