Southern Illinois University
11-2
Saint Louis
5-6
Men's Basketball drops Saint Louis, 65-52
12/21/2015 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Southern Illinois rallied from a nine-point deficit to beat Saint Louis, 65-52, on Monday night at Chaifetz Arena, snapping a five-game losing streak in the all-time series between the schools.
The Salukis (11-2) beat SLU for the first time since 2008 and the first time on the road since 2001. They completed their non-conference schedule by winning three in a row and are off to their best start since the 2006-07 season.
"My dad used to tell me, `Son if you go out and strut around like a peacock, when the lion shows up, you better be a lion,'" said SIU head coach Barry Hinson. "That's what I told our guys to start the game. I did my very best of roaring. This is a 106-year-old basketball program with a rich tradition and I want to be a part of bringing it back to where it used to be."
It wasn't a pretty game by any stretch for the Salukis. They shot 34 percent from the field, and the team's best player, Anthony Beane, was held to 7-of-22 shooting and 19 points. They overcame it by committing only four turnovers, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and holding their opponent to just 21 second-half points. Mike Rodriguez hit a couple of deep 3-pointers in the second half and finished with 10 points, while Sean O'Brien and Armon Fletcher also had 10 each.
"Anthony had one of his worst nights shooting, but one of the reasons was because Saint Louis did such a good job guarding him," said Hinson. "We finally were able to put a little bit of pressure on the ball and cover the screen and roll a little bit better, and I thought we guarded."
The Billikens (5-6) have labored throughout the month of December, dropping 5-of-6 home games, including three losses to Missouri Valley Conference opponents and two losses to Ohio Valley Conference teams. They had a frigid night from the field, converting 36 percent and 3-of-18 from 3-point.
"Nothing comes easy right now in any way, shape or form," said head coach Jim Crews. "We just go cold and guys start pressing. They have an open shot and feel like they just have to make it. We're struggling at the foul line, a lay up here and it just kind of snowballs."
Saint Louis led by as many as nine points in the first half, but SIU closed the gap to 33-31 at halftime by making four-straight baskets during a flurry of offense in the final three minutes.
The game was close until midway through the second half when Beane drained a 3-ball to put Southern up, 45-41, and Ibby Djimde stole the ensuing in-bounds pass and scored to make it 47-41. Meanwhile, SLU's offense went stone cold as it went more than eight minutes without a field goal. A couple of free throws by Davell Roby trimmed the deficit to 49-45 with 7:14 remaining, but Rodriguez hit a back-breaker with a 3-pointer from NBA range to just beat the shot clock. Beane added a driving layup with 4:20 to go to push the lead to double figures.
Hinson said the win helps his program in the talent-rich St. Louis recruiting area.
"If you want to recruit here, you have to win here," he said. "You can't go and get your butt beat every year. It's important for us to establish ourselves in this community. I have for years and I want to continue to do that."
Southern is 4-0 in road games this season, including wins at Sam Houston State, North Texas and Murray State. They open conference play at Loyola on Dec. 30.
