Southern Illinois University
13-11, 5-9MVC
Missouri State
17-8, 7-7MVC
Men's Basketball can't hang on at Missouri State
02/10/2010 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2010
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The season is starting to play like a broken record for the Salukis. It goes kind of like this -- take a substantial second-half lead, watch the other team slowly whittle it away, and then let victory slip through your fingers in the final minutes.
On Wednesday night, it was Missouri State that administered the latest dose of frustration, rallying from nine points down to edge Southern Illinois, 77-72. Of SIU's nine losses in Missouri Valley Conference play, seven have come by five points or less.
"It seems that with this team when we get up, we relax and we make mistakes," acknowledged Saluki head coach Chris Lowery. "It's frustrating, because we're doing just enough to get us beat."
The Salukis (13-11, 5-9) came out guns blazing to start the second half, using a 22-3 run to stake a 55-46 advantage. The Bears (17-8, 7-7) stayed within striking distance before making a final push in the last two minutes.
The tipping point came when Southern had the ball and a 65-64 lead with 2:30 remaining in the game. Saluki guard Justin Bocot slashed to the basket for a short jumper, while Bears' center Will Creekmore slid underneath him to draw a charge.
Missouri State then found Creekmore posted up in the paint, where he scored the final two of his 19 points to put his team up, 66-65. On SIU's next possession, Kendal Brown-Surles turned it over, and the Bears increased their lead on a one-hand slam by Jermaine Mallett moments later. Mallet recorded a game-high 21 points.
"Down the stretch, Mallett was too tough for us," Lowery said. "He played to the rim. He attacked, he was aggressive. We didn't do a good job of fighting him off."
The Salukis drew to within 73-72 on a 3-pointer by Bocot with 16 seconds remaining. After Mallet hit two free throws to extend MSU's lead to three, Southern had a chance to tie it, but Carlton Fay lost the ball with four seconds to go.
"We have to find a way to do things right all the way to the end -- not 38 minutes," Lowery said. "We're playing 38 minutes quite a bit on the road, and then in the last two, we melt down and not execute down the stretch."
Little things added up to a big hurt for the Salukis. While the Bears made 9-of-10 free throws in the final minute, SIU converted just 10-of-17 in the game. Missouri State was more aggressive on the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to SIU's five. And the Bears were more successful at drawing fouls, 25-17.
"We're a couple points away from having a great season," Lowery said. "These young guys have to realize that their margin is very small, and doing things right at the end will allow you to get wins on the road."
Offense was not a problem for the Salukis, as they shot almost 60 percent on the night and had four players in double figures, led by Bocot's 14.
Foul trouble hurt the Salukis for the second-straight game. Freshman center Gene Teague was a beast again in the post, scoring 11 points, but he played just 11 minutes due to fouls.
"That was a deciding factor," Lowery said. "He's been dominant when he gets to play."
The Salukis have little, if any, margin for error in their remaining four games, if they hope to avoid a Thursday night game in the conference tournament. They are in ninth place, trailing Indiana State and Drake by one game, and Missouri State and Bradley by two.
