Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
1-0
Air Force
0-1
Men's Basketball rallies from 15-point deficit to beat Air Force, 77-75
11/13/2015 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois rallied from a 15-point deficit to edge Air Force, 77-75, in a thrilling season-opening win on Friday night at SIU Arena.
After a slow start from the field, All-Conference guard Anthony Beane heated up just in time to tip the scales in favor of the Salukis (1-0). With four minutes remaining and the game tied, 63-63, he scored eight-straight points to put Southern on top, 69-65. Beane sealed the victory in the final seconds when Air Force guard Trevor Lyons slipped and fell after crossing midcourt, losing control of the ball. Beane dove on the ball to preserve the two-point win.
"This program used to be known as FloorburnU, and we haven't been able to establish that in my first three years," said SIU head coach Barry Hinson. "I think tonight when you win the game by diving on the floor, and it's your best player...I think that's what we have to do to turn this program."
The Falcons (0-1) were picked to finish 10th out of 11 teams in the Mountain West Conference and were 1-11 on the road last season, but they led 38-30 at halftime and built a 47-32 advantage with 18:26 remaining in the game. Forward Hayden Graham was a handful to guard in the paint. He made 7-of-8 shots and led all scorers with 19 points.
To make matters worse, Southern had two starters -- Sean O'Brien and Mike Rodriguez -- in foul trouble. It was the bench that provided the initial spark to bring the team back. Reserve guard Leo Vincent made a 3-pointer and Armon Fletcher followed with a tip-in and two free throws to cap a 9-0 run. A redshirt freshman, Fletcher scored 10 points in his college debut.
"Considering it's his first Division I game, the little stinker played pretty doggone good, went to the glass really well," Hinson said.
The Salukis kept the deficit to single digits, slowly chipped away at the lead, and finally took their first lead of the half, 61-60, on a 3-pointer by Tyler Smithpeters with 6:22 remaining.
The lead changed hands one more time before Beane took over in the closing minutes. It was a tough shooting night for SIU's senior leader, who finished with 13 points on 5-of-16 shots from the field, but he was clutch when the team needed him.
Neither club shot the ball well from the perimeter, with Southern making 6-of-24 and Air Force just 4-of-20 from 3-point range.
"There will be a night when we can't make a shot and we're going to have to find a way to win," Hinson said. "I didn't realize it would be the first game."
Rodriguez, a juco transfer point guard, delivered a crucial driving layup with 50 seconds to go to push SIU's lead to 71-68. He scored 15 points on the night and had two assists.
"Speaking of little stinkers, Michael (Rodriguez)-- make a big play, son, and boy does he ever," Hinson said. "If I had to script it, knowing the we'd win the ballgame, I'd script it like this. My chest didn't feel that way when we went down 15."
Hinson said he hopes this win is the beginning of an upturn for SIU's program, which is coming off an 11-21 season and was picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
"I had to let last year go in May," Hinson said. "I woke up one morning and I said let it go. People are upset at you, it's going to be that way. My wife's upset with me 24/7, so I'm used to it. Just focus on what you do."
