Friday, December 22
Las Vegas, Nev.
10:00 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Nevada
Men's Basketball plays Nevada and Duquesne in Las Vegas
12/21/2017 | 12:35:00 | Men's Basketball
Both Friday's and Saturday's games will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Southern Illinois looks to extend its three-game winning streak during the two-day, two-game Las Vegas Classic versus Nevada (Friday) and Duquesne (Saturday).
Southern Illinois holds a 3-1 advantage over Nevada in the all-time series between the schools, with a 2-0 record at home, 0-1 on the road, and 1-0 at a neutral site. The only recent meetings between SIU and Nevada took place in 2008. SIU beat the Wolfpack, 74-49, in a home ESPN BracketBuster game on Feb. 23, 2008. Southern held Nevada 26 points below its scoring average and recorded a season-high 14 steals (4 by Bryan Mullins). SIU returned the game on Dec. 14 the following season and lost, 62-48. The Salukis led until hitting a 10-minute scoreless stretch in the second half. SIU and Duquesne will meet for the first time.
SIU has played all 11 current members of the Mountain West Conference and has a combined record of 22-8 against MWC teams. Earlier this season, the Salukis defeated San Jose State, 76-58. The Salukis are 39-29 all-time against current members of the Atlantic 10. Fifty-six of the games have been against regional rival Saint Louis, including a 74-69 loss at SLU on Dec. 6.
In five seasons at SIU, Barry Hinson is 4-7 in exempt tournament games played at neutral sites. The wins were against Nicholls State (2012), Stetson (2013), UIC (2014) and Portland (2015). SIU did not play in a tournament at a neutral site last year.
Saluki offense hits on all cylinders
Southern Illinois scored 102 points against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 19 — the most points scored in a game since 1998. The Salukis made 14 shots from 3-point, which was a Hinson-era high. It was a team effort, as six players scored in double figures and six players made two or more 3-pointers. SIU shot 61 percent from the field with 24 assists and just six turnovers. The 38-point margin matched the biggest in the Hinson era, equalling the SIUE margin in 2016.
Four-different players have topped 20 points
Through 11 games, the Salukis have already seen four-different players reach the 20-point mark in a game. Armon Fletcher and Kavion Pippen have done it twice, while Aaron Cook and Sean Lloyd have each done it once.
G Armon Fletcher flourishes at hybrid forward
The Salukis unveiled a new, four-guard lineup on Dec. 13 versus Jackson State, inserting guard Aaron Cook into starting lineup in place of forward Jonathan Wiley, who had started the previous eight games. G Armon Fletcher (6-5, 207, Jr.) moved to the "hybrid four" position and has averaged 18.7 points and shot 58 percent from the field since the change. He scored a career-high 24-points against Jackson State.
Sean Lloyd Jr. on fire
G Sean Lloyd Jr. (6-5, 210, Jr.) is 15-of-19 from the field in the last two games and scored a career-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the win over Lamar. He is the nephew of two-time MVC player-of-the-year Lewis Lloyd, who played two seasons at Drake (1980-81) and seven years in the NBA. Another uncle, Daryl Lloyd, also played at Drake and led the team in scoring in 1985 with 17.9 points per game.
Salukis among Top 100 in four defensive categories
The Salukis rank No. 42 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.393), No. 52 in blocked shots (4.8), No. 64 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.309) and No. 86 in scoring defense (67.3).
Kavion Pippen leads team in field goal percentage, blocked shots
Juco transfer C Kavion Pippen (6-10, 240, Jr.) leads the team in field goal percentage (.578), attempts (102) and blocked shots (21). Pippen scored in double figures in seven-straight games to start the season. The nephew of NBA legend Scottie Pippen was named MVC Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 12 and again on Dec. 4. He had a career-high 24-point outing versus Jackson State.
Marcus Bartley returns
After missing the first six games of the season with a broken wrist, Saint Louis transfer G Marcus Bartley (6-5, 193, Jr.) has established himself in the starting lineup as the team's point guard. He has 23 assists and 12 turnovers since returning.
Dawg Bites
•SIU has led at halftime of every game except Louisville and SEMO.
•F Thik Bol (6-8, 202, Sr.) had knee surgery on Nov. 3 and is not expected to return until early January.
•G Eric McGill (6-2, 175, Jr.) injured his left hand on Dec. 17 and is out indefinitely.
•SIU has gone 93-consecutive games with at least one 3-point field goal and 1,001-consecutive games with at least one free throw (dating back to 1986).
Southern Illinois holds a 3-1 advantage over Nevada in the all-time series between the schools, with a 2-0 record at home, 0-1 on the road, and 1-0 at a neutral site. The only recent meetings between SIU and Nevada took place in 2008. SIU beat the Wolfpack, 74-49, in a home ESPN BracketBuster game on Feb. 23, 2008. Southern held Nevada 26 points below its scoring average and recorded a season-high 14 steals (4 by Bryan Mullins). SIU returned the game on Dec. 14 the following season and lost, 62-48. The Salukis led until hitting a 10-minute scoreless stretch in the second half. SIU and Duquesne will meet for the first time.
SIU has played all 11 current members of the Mountain West Conference and has a combined record of 22-8 against MWC teams. Earlier this season, the Salukis defeated San Jose State, 76-58. The Salukis are 39-29 all-time against current members of the Atlantic 10. Fifty-six of the games have been against regional rival Saint Louis, including a 74-69 loss at SLU on Dec. 6.
In five seasons at SIU, Barry Hinson is 4-7 in exempt tournament games played at neutral sites. The wins were against Nicholls State (2012), Stetson (2013), UIC (2014) and Portland (2015). SIU did not play in a tournament at a neutral site last year.
Saluki offense hits on all cylinders
Southern Illinois scored 102 points against North Carolina A&T on Dec. 19 — the most points scored in a game since 1998. The Salukis made 14 shots from 3-point, which was a Hinson-era high. It was a team effort, as six players scored in double figures and six players made two or more 3-pointers. SIU shot 61 percent from the field with 24 assists and just six turnovers. The 38-point margin matched the biggest in the Hinson era, equalling the SIUE margin in 2016.
Four-different players have topped 20 points
Through 11 games, the Salukis have already seen four-different players reach the 20-point mark in a game. Armon Fletcher and Kavion Pippen have done it twice, while Aaron Cook and Sean Lloyd have each done it once.
G Armon Fletcher flourishes at hybrid forward
The Salukis unveiled a new, four-guard lineup on Dec. 13 versus Jackson State, inserting guard Aaron Cook into starting lineup in place of forward Jonathan Wiley, who had started the previous eight games. G Armon Fletcher (6-5, 207, Jr.) moved to the "hybrid four" position and has averaged 18.7 points and shot 58 percent from the field since the change. He scored a career-high 24-points against Jackson State.
Sean Lloyd Jr. on fire
G Sean Lloyd Jr. (6-5, 210, Jr.) is 15-of-19 from the field in the last two games and scored a career-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting in the win over Lamar. He is the nephew of two-time MVC player-of-the-year Lewis Lloyd, who played two seasons at Drake (1980-81) and seven years in the NBA. Another uncle, Daryl Lloyd, also played at Drake and led the team in scoring in 1985 with 17.9 points per game.
Salukis among Top 100 in four defensive categories
The Salukis rank No. 42 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.393), No. 52 in blocked shots (4.8), No. 64 in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.309) and No. 86 in scoring defense (67.3).
Kavion Pippen leads team in field goal percentage, blocked shots
Juco transfer C Kavion Pippen (6-10, 240, Jr.) leads the team in field goal percentage (.578), attempts (102) and blocked shots (21). Pippen scored in double figures in seven-straight games to start the season. The nephew of NBA legend Scottie Pippen was named MVC Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 12 and again on Dec. 4. He had a career-high 24-point outing versus Jackson State.
Marcus Bartley returns
After missing the first six games of the season with a broken wrist, Saint Louis transfer G Marcus Bartley (6-5, 193, Jr.) has established himself in the starting lineup as the team's point guard. He has 23 assists and 12 turnovers since returning.
Dawg Bites
•SIU has led at halftime of every game except Louisville and SEMO.
•F Thik Bol (6-8, 202, Sr.) had knee surgery on Nov. 3 and is not expected to return until early January.
•G Eric McGill (6-2, 175, Jr.) injured his left hand on Dec. 17 and is out indefinitely.
•SIU has gone 93-consecutive games with at least one 3-point field goal and 1,001-consecutive games with at least one free throw (dating back to 1986).
Players Mentioned
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