Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
15-3,MVC 6-0
Bradley
10-5,MVC 3-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley | 24 | 35 | 59 |
| Southern Illinois | 33 | 34 | 67 |
Men's Basketball Defeats Bradley, 67-59
01/19/2005 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2005
By Scott Mees
www.SIUSalukis.com
Listen to Postgame Press Conferences
Lowery | Les and Sommerville | Warren and Young
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Salukis fell behind early once again, but a furious run during the first half turned the game around for SIU.
Center Josh Warren scored a career-high 18 points and pulled down 13 boards - also a career-best - Wednesday as the Southern Illinois University men's basketball team defeated Bradley 67-59 in Missouri Valley Conference play at SIU Arena.
"Josh has got some momentum, and we're starting to go to him," said SIU head coach Chris Lowery. "He's starting to rebound, and that's the most important thing.
"He probably had the career game of his life."
The Salukis (15-3, 6-0) won their 31st consecutive home conference game in front of nearly 7,000 fans (6,970).
"I had 18 and 13, so hopefully I can keep it going," Warren said. "We need to keep it going too and finish the year out strong."
Bradley (10-5, 3-4) guard Tony Bennett hit a jumper with three minutes left to cut SIU's lead to 55-53. Tony Young stole ball and threw it ahead to Stetson Hairston who missed a layup, but Warren followed with a tip-in. Warren got a rebound and was fouled, and the big man drained a pair of clutch free throws - that put SIU up 59-53 with 1:41 left in the game.
Young picked J.J. Tauai's pocket and dashed downcourt for a two-handed dunk - which put the crowd into a frenzy - and Southern led 63-55 with 26 seconds remaining.
"I just come into the game and try to get the tempo of the game going our way," Young said. "It's always in the back of our mind, when we're playing, not to lose at home."
Young scored 15 points and made four steals for SIU, and LaMar Owen added 10 points, six rebounds and four steals. Darren Brooks put 10 points on the board, and he added seven rebounds and seven assists - four of those crisp passes were to Warren for easy layups.
Stetson Hairston scored all four of his points on 4-for-4 from the foul line in the contest's final minute. The Salukis shot 17-of-17 from the free-throw line. SIU also forced the Braves into 24 turnovers.
"We've worked on the free-throw line," Lowery said. "If we don't shoot free throws well, we obviously lose the basketball game."
In the first half, Bradley jumped out to a 22-11 lead, but then the Salukis turned on the juice - with their second unit - and went on an outstanding 22-2 run to end the half.
"Our bench came in and got it going," Lowery said. "Tony Young and Mike Dale really came in and changed things from a movement standpoint. We just stood around to start the game again. Our bench is tremendous."
Coach Lowery indicated that he will not allow the Salukis to start sluggishly for a third consecutive game.
"We've got to sub quicker," Lowery said. "If our guys can't get it going right away, then we've got to sub right away.
Young hit a big 3-pointer to snap the Salukis out of their funk, and things went downhill for Bradley from there. Warren hit a pair of free throws and followed that with a tough move in the lane for two points. Jamaal Tatum drained a 3-pointer, and Brooks broke away for a dunk - and the Salukis had erased the deficit and led 25-22.
Brooks hit Warren with another gorgeous pass, and the center went up for two more points. The Salukis took a 33-24 lead into halftime.
"That's a good basketball team," said Bradley head coach Jim Les. "You're not going to keep them down for 40 minutes. We just let up, and we weren't as sharp during that middle stretch of the first half."
Marcellus Somerville led the Braves with 16 points, and Jeremy Crouch added 13.
"That guy's very good," Lowery said. "To hold him under 20, and to four at the half, I think is really good."
Southern's starting guards did not shoot particularly well. Brooks was just 3-of-14, Hairston was 0-of-5, and Tatum shot only 1-of-10 from the field.
"We can't have our backcourt go 4-of-29 on the road and expect to win a game," Lowery said.
The Salukis hit the road again, on Saturday, when they face Wichita State at 7:05 p.m.
