Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball hosts Indiana State
02/01/2006 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2006
By Brian Feldt
www.SIUSalukis.com
The Southern Illinois men's basketball team will host Indiana State University tonight at 7:05 p.m., looking to increase its lead in the Missouri Valley Conference to one game.
The Salukis (16-5, 9-2) have a half-game lead over Northern Iowa and Creighton, and a one-game advantage over Wichita State.
"We can't worry about what anybody else is doing," said guard Tony Young, "We just got to finish it off strong, and whatever happens, happens."
The Salukis have won 33-straight home games, which is tied for the longest home-winning streak in the nation (Gonzaga and Illinois also have 33). A win would put the Saluki team back into the number one spot in the nation as neither Gonzaga or Illinois plays at home until Feb. 4.
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The two teams met on Jan. 5, when SIU beat Indiana State, 55-49. The game featured three Saluki players in double digit scoring (Young, 15; Jamaal Tatum, 12; Matt Shaw, 10).The team also held the Sycamores to only one point in the last seven minutes in the victory.
"We aren't going to overlook them," said Shaw. "You can't overlook anybody in this conference, because everyone has a solid ball club."
Southern, which ranks third in the nation in scoring defense, will be looking to stop David Moss, a senior guard, who is coming off a hamstring injury that kept him out of eight games this season. Moss' 16.9 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game are both team bests.
"He's a scorer," said Lowery. "Before he got hurt, he was the best player in our league."
Guarding Moss will likely be the responsibility of Young, who is no stranger to Moss and his style of play.
"David Moss and I are very good friends," said Young. "We talk all the time, we played in the championship game against each other our junior years in high school, but when we get on the court, we are enemies."
Not only does Indiana State get Moss back, but Eric Gray will also be returning from injury after playing only two games this season.
"They get another player (Gray) back who can average double figures," said Lowery. "So they got two guys who can score."
Indiana State has lost 11-straight games after winning its first nine.
"They have all their weapons back now, so we expect them to play hard against us," said Lowery. "But we don't change our game plan for anybody."
SIU leads the all time series with a 72-34 record and has not lost a game to Indiana State since 2001, in the MVC tournament. The Sycamores have not won a game at SIU Arena in 24 meetings.
"It's about playing with confidence, not arrogance," said Lowery. "As long as you play with confidence and are humble, good things will happen."
