Southern Illinois University
18-7, 11-4MVC
Creighton
17-6, 11-4MVC
Men's Basketball grabs key win at Creighton
02/11/2006 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2006
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
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OMAHA, Neb. - With March Madness just a few, short weeks away, Southern Illinois needed a signature road win to spruce up its NCAA Tournament resume.
It got one Saturday at Creighton.
The Salukis (18-7, 11-4) snapped the Bluejays' 16-game home-winning streak, capturing a 74-67 victory and vaulting into the thick of the Missouri Valley Conference race.
A loss would have virtually eliminated SIU from title contention. Instead, the four-time defending champions are now in a four-way tie atop the MVC with Creighton (17-6, 11-4), Northern Iowa and Wichita State.
Known more for its hard-nosed defense, Southern Illinois has been remarkably proficient on offense in its last two games.
The Salukis again shot a season-best, hitting 52 percent from the field, as they steadily pulled away from the Bluejays in the second half.
"They just kind of got whatever they wanted," Creighton coach Dana Altman said. "We didn't get the stops when we needed to."
Southern led by one at halftime, but guard Jamaal Tatum hit a trio of 3-pointers during a three-minute span in the second half to give SIU a 42-37 lead with 13:48 to play.
Saluki head coach Chris Lowery said Tatum's baskets all came directly from Southern's motion offense.
"We got him some open looks without running (plays) for him," Lowery said. "That's the hardest thing to do for a guy who can score -- especially when a team is keying on him."
Altman said Tatum, who finished with 19 points, ignited SIU's offense.
"That kind of got them going, and we played from a deficit the rest of the game and just weren't able to get back in it," he said.
SIU led by as many as 14 points in the second half, and every time Creighton tried to make a run, the Salukis had an answer.
An especially effective response was the brilliant defensive play of point guard Bryan Mullins. The league leader in steals this season tied a school record with eight thefts -- seven coming in the second half.
During a remarkable sequence after Creighton had closed the gap to 57-49 with 6:17 remaining, Mullins swiped the ball on consecutive possessions from Bluejay guards Josh Dotzler and Nick Porter.
"(SIU) really put a lot of pressure on our perimeter guys not to get easy looks, to get the ball inside," Altman observed.
"We're just getting back to the blue-collar stuff that's made us good in the past," Mullins said. "That was our mentality today -- to out-tough them."
The freshman guard also led Southern with five assists and has 13 in the last two games. His ability to penetrate and dish helps explain SIU's recent improvement on offense.
"We're opening up the middle a little more for driving lanes and more penetration for spot-up shooters," Mullins said. "Also, we get Randal (Falker) and Matt (Shaw) kind of isolated down there one-on-one."
Shaw broke out of his recent shooting slump by making 6-of-9 shots from the field and finishing with a game-high 20 points.
Tatum took partial credit for Shaw's performance.
"I was his roommate (on this road trip), and I got him laughing and talking," Tatum said. "Matt's a quiet guy."
Tatum said the Salukis have made some subtle changes to the offense, including a "new type of transition basketball."
"We get to the corners a little better," he said. "We're sprinting harder, and Bryan is finding us."
The Salukis extended their recent dominance over Creighton, winning their sixth-straight in the series. Not even a sold-out Qwest Center, where SIU improved to 3-0, could rattle the Salukis.
"I'm just very pleased with how our kids were poised in an unbelievable environment," Lowery said.
"I always tell them, `if you're scared of crowds, I'm not going to put you in the game.' You can't be afraid to make a play."
The win over the Bluejays, who entered the game sporting an RPI of 18, helps make up for two, near misses against Top 25 RPI teams for Southern Illinois. The Salukis lost in double overtime at Northern Iowa and Wichita State earlier this season.
Lowery said his team may be coming together at just the right time.
"People always say how talented we are, but talent doesn't mean anything until you can harness it and use it and find the right cogs to work together," he said. "We're finding the right pieces."
