Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Men's Basketball faces road challenge at Creighton
02/10/2006 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2006
By Brian Feldt
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's basketball team heads to Omaha, Neb., Saturday to play Missouri Valley Conference co-leader Creighton at 1 p.m. The game will be televised locally on WSIU-TV 8.
"Any time we get a chance to play Creighton on the road, it's a big game for us," said Saluki forward Matt Shaw. "It's going to be a battle."
A win for the Salukis would be a big plus for two reasons. One, Creighton sports a high RPI (18) and beating the Bluejays would be an impressive mark on SIU's NCAA Tournament resume. Two, a victory would complete a season sweep of the 'Jays and give Southern a leg up in certain tie-breaker scenarios for conference tournament seeding.
"This is one of the greatest races of all time in the Valley," said head coach Chris Lowery. "You see all the teams up there, and we are separated by only one game. It's crazy."
The task is tall as Creighton has won 10 out of their last 11 games, with their only loss coming at SIU, which beat the 'Jays, 62-48, on Jan. 24.
"Creighton is the only team not to lose at home yet this season," said Lowery, whose team has a five-game winning streak against CU. "Obviously, we have to play as hard as we can to win."
SIU's hottest player is Randal Falker, who is seeking his fifth-straight double-double in as many games. In the last four games, Falker has averaged 16.8 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game.
"We are going to him," Lowery said. "He is a load for everybody right now, especially when he is making his free throws. You can't single cover him right now."
A storyline for the game will be the freshmen on both teams: Bryan Mullins (Southern) and Josh Dotzler (Creighton). Both players are point guards who average more than 30 minutes per game.
"They are both mature players," said Lowery. "They are winners, and that's how you compare the two."
Saluki guard Jamaal Tatum practiced at full speed Thursday after missing Tuesday's game with a stomach virus.
