Southern Illinois University
3-5
Nevada
5-4
Nevada outlasts Men's Basketball, 62-48
12/14/2008 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2008
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
RENO, Nev. - Southern Illinois went scoreless during a frustrating 10-minute span of the second half, as Nevada rallied for a 62-48 win Sunday.
The Salukis (3-5) led, 31-30, with 17:18 remaining in the game, when the offense derailed. Shots wouldn't fall. Put-backs wouldn't go down. On one head-scratching possession, SIU missed three open shots, grabbed three offensive rebounds before finally turning the ball over.
In all, SIU missed 15 shots in a row and committed five turnovers, as the Wolfpack (5-4) went on a game-changing 16-0 run.
"We played a really good first half, but on the road you have to play 40 minutes," said senior point guard Bryan Mullins, who had 13 points and five assists. "We have to learn that every possession counts. We've been saying that for a while now. We have to stop making excuses and just do it."
After shooting a respectable 42 percent in the first half, Southern made just 7-of-34 shots during the second. The Salukis' 28 percent shooting from the field was a season low.
As poorly as SIU executed on offense, it was still within striking distance late in the game. On three occasions, the Salukis closed the deficit to six points, however, they could come no closer, as missed shots and turnovers intervened again.
Mullins accepted responsibility for the offensive meltdown.
"I have to do a better job of making sure the ball goes where it needs to be on offense to stop their runs," he said.
The Salukis had little trouble getting the ball inside -- center Tony Boyle had frequent touches and posted a game-high 14 points. However, he was 3-of-9 from the field, as Nevada's athletic front court swatted multiple shot attempts.
"We got it deep in the paint, but we didn't finish," Saluki head coach Chris Lowery said. "When we get it in there, those have got to be finishes."
Statstically, however, Southern's frontcourt was the bright spot. SIU's starting guards were 4-for-21 from the field.
"We have to make shots," Mullins said. "I have to make shots. The seniors have to step up."
Nevada's toughest offensive weapon was guard Armon Johnson. He made 7-of-12 shots and finished with a game-high 16 points.
"It was Armon getting in the middle of the lane and making plays," Lowery lamented. "I thought we did a good job on Johnson in the first half and very poor one on him in the second half."
SIU's leading scorer, forward Carlton Fay, was on the bench with foul trouble during much of the pivotal portions of the second half. He helped key Southern's late comeback and recorded 10 points on the afternoon.
"We have to find ways to get him going early," Lowery said. "When he gets going, he's a great player for us."
One positive note for the Salukis -- freshman center Nick Evans played for the first time since breaking a bone in his wrist against UCLA on Nov. 21. Evans had his cast removed on Friday and practiced for the first time on Saturday.
The Salukis will fly to Chicago on Monday to prepare for Wednesday's game at Northern Illinois.
