Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Missouri Southern
Men's Basketball looks to bounce back vs. Missouri Southern State on Wednesday
11/15/2016 | 10:58:00 | Men's Basketball
Southern Illinois (0-2) hosts Division II Missouri Southern State (2-0) in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday at SIU Arena at 7 p.m. The Salukis are in the middle of a five-game stretch in 10 days to start the season.
Hinson 11-0 vs. Non-Division I
Hinson holds an 11-0 career record against non-Division I opponents during 15 years as a collegiate head coach. He's 3-0 while at SIU, with a 38-point win over Benedictine-Springfield in 2012, a 22-point victory over Missouri S&T in 2013, and a 16-point win over Olivet Nazarene in 2014.
Series vs. Missouri Southern State
The only meeting between the schools took place in Carbondale on Dec. 23, 1994. The Salukis won, 102-47, as Chris Carr led the Salukis with 22 points and all 13 players scored. SIU set a school record, that still stands, by out-rebounding MSSU by 38.
Statistical leaders
It's still early, but the Salukis have three players among the league leaders in a handful of statistical categories. Mike Rodriguez is seventh in scoring (16.5) and third in assists (5.0), Armon Fletcher is second in steals (2.5) and Thik Bol is 6th in blocked shots (1.5)
Mike Rodriguez has a 5-1 assist-turnover ratio
PG Mike Rodriguez (5-10, 165, Sr.) has 10 assists and only two turnovers for a sparkling 5.00 assist-to-turnover ratio. His ratio last year (1.88) was the ninth-best single-season mark in school history. Rodriguez also leads the team in scoring and had a career-high 29 points in the opener against Wright State, nearly doubling his previous best of 15 versus Air Force on Nov. 13, 2015. Interestingly, that game was also the team's season-opener. Â
Senior leadership
The Salukis' senior class (Sean O'Brien, Leo Vincent, Mike Rodriguez, Tyler Smithpeters) has the most returning career points and rebounds of any school in the Missouri Valley Conference. In fact, 25 percent of the returning scoring in the MVC comes from SIU's four seniors.
Sean O'Brien voted Preseason Second-Team All-MVC
F Sean O'Brien (6-7, 215, Sr.) is SIU's top returning scorer (12.1 points), rebounder (6.0 rebounds) and shot blocker (29 blocks). He was also second on the team in assists (63). The savvy veteran first cracked the lineup early in his freshman campaign, and has started 91 of the last 92 games, including a current streak of 69-consecutive starts.
Leo Vincent off to a hot start
G Leo Vincent (6-1, 192, Sr.) leads the team in 3-point shooting percentage (.556) having made 5-of-9. He is the team's second-leading scorer (14.5) and rebounder (5.0). Last year, Vincent was named to the MVC's All-Bench team last year. He played in all 32 games, never started, but was the team's fourth-leading scorer (8.1 points).Â
Saluki lineup features trio of junior college starters
Three Saluki starters (Mike Rodriguez, Leo Vincent and Thik Bol) came to SIU via the junior college route. The last time Southern started three juco players in a game was on Feb. 22, 2012 when Mamadou Seck, Jeff Early and T.J. Lindsay started at Drake.
School-record 17 home games at SIU ArenaÂ
Southern Illinois will host a school-record eight non-conference home games for a total of 17 home games this season — the most in school history. The Salukis have a 522-184 (.740) record all-time at SIU Arena, which opened in 1964, including a 12-4 mark last season. The arena underwent a $29.9 million renovation prior to the 2010-11 season.Â
