SIU visits Colorado State Tuesday in MVC-MWC Challenge

The Southern Illinois men's basketball team travels to Fort Collins, Colo., to face Colorado State in the MVC-Mountain West Challenge. The Salukis and Rams will face off Tuesday, November 27, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed through the Mountain West Network.

Southern Illinois (3-3) at Colorado State (4-2) || Fort Collins, Colo. (Moby Arena) || Tuesday, November 27 || 8 p.m. CT

Watch » Mountain West Network with Brian Roth and Adam Nigon
Listen » Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis and Ray Giacoletti (Stream available through TuneIn)
Stats » SIUSalukis.com/mbb/schedule
Game Notes » Southern Illinois (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN

Southern Illinois travels to Fort Collins, Colo., to face Colorado State in the MVC-Mountain West Challenge.
SIU is 3-3 all-time in the MVC-MWC Challenge.
- Nov. 21, 2009 at UNLV: L, 69-78
- Dec. 1, 2010 vs. New Mexico: L, 59-74
- Nov. 28, 2012 vs. Fresno State: W, 57-54
- Nov. 13 2015 vs. Air Force: W, 77-75
- Dec. 19, 2016 at UNLV: L, 61-68
- Dec. 2, 2017 vs. San Jose State: W, 76-58
Marcus Bartley is shooting 60.7 percent from the 3-point line this season, which ranks eighth nationally and leads the MVC. In the last four games, Bartley is 16-for-22 (73 percent) from deep.
Eric McGill led SIU in scoring in each of the past two games. McGill scored 32 points on only 14 shots over just 44 minutes over the two games.
In SIU's three wins, the Salukis have 61 assists on 83 field goals (74 percent).
Seven Salukis have already had at least one double-figure game this year, and six players have multiple double-figure scoring games.
In SIU's last game, Southern had six players score nine or more points.
In the MVC, SIU is...
- 1st in assists (92)
- 2nd in FG% defense (39.9%)
- 2nd in 3-point FG% (40.7)
- 2nd in blocks (23)
- 2nd in turnovers forced (15.0 per game)

GAME PREVIEW

SIU vs. Colorado State will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
SIU is 2-1 all-time against Colorado State. The teams are meeting for the first time since 2002. SIU is 0-1 all-time in Fort Collins, falling in 2001.
Colorado State head coach Niko Medved was in the MVC last season as the head coach at Drake.
Five Rams are averaging double-figures, led by Anthony Masinton-Bonner (15.7 ppg) and JD Paige (15.4 ppg). That duo is shooting a combined 53 percent from the field. Nico Carvacho is ranked 13th nationally in rebounding (11.2 rpg).
The Rams are 3-0 at home. They lead the MWC and rank 31st nationally (of 351) in 3-pointers attempted (161) and made (57). The Salukis shoot fewer 3's but rank 31st nationally in 3-point percentage (40.7 percent).

HOT SHOOTING

Marcus Bartley is shooting 60.7 percent from the 3-point line this season, which ranks eighth nationally and leads the MVC. In the last four games, Bartley is 16-for-22 (73 percent) from deep.
As a team, SIU is 32-for-62 from the 3-point line in three wins this year (52 percent).
Five Salukis have set career scoring highs in the last four games. Bartley had 20 vs. Pine Bluff. Rudy Stradnieks had 12 vs. Pine Bluff. Brendon Gooch had 9 points vs. Howard; and Darius Beane had 12 points vs. Howard. Eric McGill had 18 points against UMass.
The last half SIU played (second half vs. Tulsa), SIU shot 65 percent (15-for-23) and 67 percent from the 3-point line (6-for-9).
Aaron Cook was named to the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational All-Tournament Team. In four games, Cook averaged 11 points and five assists, including a career-high 10 assists vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff.

LOCK DOWN

SIU did an exceptional job limiting the opposing team's best player in each of the four games.
Game 1 at No. 2 Kentucky: SIU held preseason All-American Reid Travis to six points
Game 2 vs. #25 Buffalo: C.J. Massinburg was coming off a 43-point game against No. 13 West Viriginia. SIU held him to seven points and scoreless in the second half.
Game 3 vs. Pine Bluff: preseason SWAC Player of the Year Martaveous McKnight was coming off a 41-point game and was averaging 35 points per game. SIU held him to 11 points on 4-for-17 shooting.
Game 6 vs. Tulsa: Sterling Taplin was averaging 12 points, 7 assists and 1 turnover per game. SIU limited him to eight points (on 2-10 shooting), 2 assists and 4 turnouvers.
SIU held No. 25 Buffalo to 62 points, matching the best defensive performance against Buffalo in the last three seasons.
UB last scored fewer than 62 on March 1, 2016 (vs. Miami (OH) - 59 points). Buffalo averaged 85 points per game last season.
SIU held Kentucky to 71 points and Buffalo to 62 points, each team's season low.
SIU held Buffalo, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Howard all under 40 percent shooting. The last time SIU held three-straight opponents under 40 percent shooting was Dec. 6-14, 2014, vs. Austin Peay, SEMO, and Chicago State. (Before that: Dec. 11-19, 2011).

For a complete set of game notes in PDF format, click here.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Bartley

Darius Beane

Aaron Cook Jr.

Brendon Gooch

Eric McGill

Rudy Stradnieks

Scoreboard