SIU hosts Winthrop in non-conference finale

The Southern Illinois men's basketball program faces Winthrop in the final regular season non-conference game of the 2018-19 season. Tipoff on Saturday, December 22, is set for 3 p.m. CT in SIU Arena. The game will be streamed nationally on ESPN+. Live music and Santa Claus will be at SIU Arena, starting at 1:30 p.m. ahead of the 3 p.m. tipoff, and the first 400 fans will receive a free SIU ornament.

Southern Illinois (7-5) vs. Winthrop (6-4) || Saturday, December 22 || 3 p.m. || SIU Arena

Tickets » SIUSalukis.com/tickets or call 877-SALUKIS
Watch » ESPN+ with Darren Kinnard and Mike Trude
Listen » Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis and Ray Giacoletti (Stream available through TuneIn)
Stats » SIUSalukis.com/MBB/LiveStats
Game Notes » Southern Illinois (PDF)
Press Conference » Watch Coach Hinson's press conference on YouTube

THE RUNDOWN

Southern Illinois wraps up non-conference play by hosting Winthrop on Saturday at 3 p.m. in a game streamed nationally through ESPN+.
Saluki Athletics donated more than 3,500 hours of community service to Carbondale and the surrounding area during Fall 2018, which ranked second in the nation.
The first 400 fans through the doors will receive a free SIU Christmas ornament. Tickets are available for as little as $10.
Live music from the band Second-Hand CarTunes will play in the Charles Helleny Pavilion from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ahead of the 3 p.m. tipoff.
Santa Claus will also be at SIU Arena prior to tipoff.
SIU has assisted on 59.9 percent of its field goals, which ranks 27th nationally.
In the N.E.T. (which is the NCAA's replacement tool for the RPI), SIU is ranked No. 92 nationally and first in the MVC.
Thik Bol has 96 career blocks. With four more blocks, he will become the sixth player in program history to block 100 career shots.
In the MVC, SIU is...
- 1st in assists (182)
- 1st in blocks (53)
- 2nd in steals (74)
- 2nd in rebounds (408)
- 2nd in 3-point FG% (.381)

COACH HINSON ON WINTHROP

"With a win, we think this will make us the No. 1 team in the Valley with the NET. It's a big deal to us. It's obviously a big deal to win. It puts us in a position to get to our goal all along, which is to get to postseason play. Our goal is the win a conference championship. At the same time, if we are unable to do that, we want to put ourselves in the best position we can; and right now, we've done that with our non-conference schedule. This is going to be an intriguing game. As I've told you before, any time we shoot over 20 3's, I feel pretty bad about our team. I thought we could shoot upwards of 25 3's this year, but we're still about the same team I've always had. If we shoot 20, 21, or 22 3's, we're OK. (Winthrop) averages 94 points per game. They shoot it 67 times per game; whereas we shoot it 53. They're going to shoot it within 10-15 seconds every time down the floor. They're a transition team and they can make 3's. They're a scary team. If they come in here and make perimeter jumpers, they will beat us. We have to do a great job in transition defense. We have to find shooters as fast as possible. They are 2.2 points away from six guys averaging double-figures, so this is a highly explosive offensive team." (Watch the full press conference on YouTube)

GAME PREVIEW

Southern Illinois wraps up non-conference play by hosting Winthrop on Saturday at 3 p.m. in a game streamed nationally through ESPN+.
Special $10 tickets are available in the student section during Christmas break--Dec. 22, Jan. 2, and Jan. 12.
The first 400 fans through the doors will receive a free SIU Christmas ornament.
Fans are also encouraged to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. The winner of the ugliest sweater will receive a $25 gift card to Saluki Bar and Grill.
Live music from the band Second-Hand CarTunes will play in the Charles Helleny Pavilion from 1:30-2:30 p.m. ahead of the 3 p.m. tipoff. Santa Claus will also be at SIU Arena prior to tipoff.
The game is Hoops for the Holidays; tickets were donated to kids/families who are less fortunate and couldn't afford to attend a game. If you wish to donate tickets, contact Ron Reeves at ronald.reeves@siu.edu.
Member of the Special Olympics will play on the court at halftime.
Winthrop plays at the fifth-fastest tempo in college basketball, according to KenPom.
Fifty percent of Winthrop's field goal attempts have been 3-pointers, which they hit at 38.8 percent, ranking 32nd nationally (of 353).
Three Winthrop players are averaging in double figures, led by Nych Smith at 16.8 ppg. Smith is shooting 44 percent from the 3-point line.
SIU is 1-0 all-time against Winthrop, winning 81-66 last year in the season opener. SIU is 3-0 all-time against current members of the Big South, having also beaten Charleston Southern (in 2010) and Radford (in 1992) once each.

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