Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball Holds On To Top SMS, 59-52
02/03/2004 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2004
CARBONDALE
By Seth Whitehead
www.SIUSalukis.com - The Southern Illinois University men's basketball team held on for its ninth-straight win -- despite nearly blowing a 17-point second-half lead -- knocking off Southwest Missouri State, 59-52, Tuesday night to improve to 11-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference and improve to a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place Creighton.
Darren Brooks led the Salukis (17-2 overall) with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Brad Korn had 12 and Jamaal Tatum came off the bench to chip in 10 points.
Korn and Tatum each came up with clutch shots down the stretch that helped stave off the Bears, who got to within two points of the Salukis late in the game.
The Salukis appeared to have things wrapped up early in the second half, as a Korn 3-pointer at the 17:05 mark put SIU up 38-21.
But, perhaps looking forward to the Creighton game, the Salukis let up a little bit soon after, and SMS took advantage with a 19-3 run that trimmed SIU's lead to just one point, 41-40, on a Blake Ahearn three-point play at the 8:53 mark.
Josh Warren and Stetson Hairston responded with back-to-back buckets, however -- Hairston's coming on a steal and fast-break -- stretching SIU's lead back to five points, but it was nip-and-tuck until the final minute of the game.
Merrill Andrews led SMS (14-8, 6-5) with 15 points, while Blake Ahearn scored all nine of his points in the second half.
The Bears finished with more turnovers (19) than field goals (18), and SIU took full advantage, finishing with a 22-9 advantage on points off turnovers.
SIU shot just 37 percent from the field, but took nine more shots than SMS.
