Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
14-3, 5-0MVC
Missouri St.
7-7, 1-5MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State | 34 | 26 | 60 |
| Southern Illinois | 26 | 35 | 61 |
Men's Basketball Edges SMS, 61-60
01/15/2005 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2005
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
Listen to Postgame Press Conferences
Coach Lowery | Coach Hinson | Warren | Shavies
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Salukis overcame a 12-point second-half deficit -- and Mike Dale lifted the offense -- in a dramatic last-second victory on Saturday night at SIU Arena.
Josh Warren ended up with ball at the top of the key - in the game's waning moments - and the center banked in a 3-point field goal to give the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team a 61-60 win over Southwest Missouri State.
"It feels great to hit any big shot," Warren said. "Plus, it's my senior year, and I want to go out on top.
"The fans did a really great job getting us going because we weren't really going tonight."
The teams combined for 42 turnovers, but the 6,826 fans were thrilled with the end result - many students rushed onto the floor as time expired.
"I don't know how to explain it, this place is just special," said SIU head coach Chris Lowery. "Special things just happen for us here. Our fans were tremendous here tonight, and the players were going crazy.
"That's what home-court advantage is about."
The Salukis (14-3, 5-0) remained perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play while SMS (7-7, 1-5) dropped another close game.
Dale scored 15 points to lead SIU - including 2-of-2 from downtown - and Warren added 13 points. Stetson Hairston scored 12 points and had five steals, and Darren Brooks tallied seven points, eight steals and six assists.
The eight steals for Brooks ties his own school record for steals in a game, which he set last season at Drake.
"We put Mike Dale in at the four, and that changed everything," Lowery said. "Bilyeu was killing us off the dribble, and we wanted to put a big guard on him, and he didn't score a basket the rest of the way when Mike was in."
Nathan Bilyeu played 37 minutes and finished with eight points for SMS.
"You've got to commend them (SMS)," Lowery said. "They came ready to play, and we knew it was going to be that way. Barry's a good coach. He gets his team motivated, and those guys always play hard against us no matter what."
Dale hit a jump shot with 4:29 left in the game, and the Salukis upped their lead to 58-53. However, the team did not score another point until Warren's 3-pointer at the end of the contest.
Southwest's Tamarr Maclin dunked the ball followed by an Anthony Shavies' jumper to knot the game at 58-58 with 2:36 to play. The Bears hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds to go, but Warren's huge shot erased everything SMS had worked for all night.
"I knew we were going to make a run, and I knew it was going to be a dog fight," Warren said.
There was a lengthy stoppage of play after SIU's Jamaal Tatum became entangled with SMS guard Trevyor Fisher. The officials looked at replays of the play, and both players were ejected. Both players were called for flagrant fouls.
In the first half, the Bears started quickly and led 7-2, but SIU stormed back with an 11-3 run of its own to take a 13-10 advantage. Hairston hit a 3-pointer, and LaMar Owen scored four points during the run.
SMS proceeded to go on a 14-4 streak to take the lead back at 30-20 - with less than three minutes left in the first half.
The Bears outrebounded SIU by a wide margin of 36-24, but SIU made 20-of-23 free throws in the game, and every one of them was needed.
"This team needs a break," said SMS head coach Barry Hinson. "The way you get breaks is you continue to practice hard. I'm proud of our kids because we did what we wanted to do."
The Bears' coach said he was at a loss for words, and mentioned that his team has lost several MVC games on last-second shots. Hinson did not want to make a comment on the ejections of three bench players for going on to the court during the altercation. SMS had apparently called timeout, and the players thought it was all right for them to leave the bench.
"I better keep my mouth shut," Hinson said. "I can't afford a fine. We've got one girl who just got married and another daughter in college, and I can't afford a fine.
"They were coming off the bench for a timeout."
Coach Hinson was concerned that four of his players may not be eligible for their next game, but would not expand further and said his athletic director would handle it.
Maclin led SMS with 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Shavies added 12 points but only shot 4-of-11 from the field. Maclin was tough on the glass, but he picked up his fourth foul with 10 minutes left in the game.
"He's the best offensive rebounder in the league," Lowery said. "I mean if you watch him, it's legal. He's just a bully, and we did not do a good enough job of blocking him out."
SIU hosts Bradley on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at SIU Arena.
