Wednesday, February 6
Springfield, Mo.
7 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
12-12 (5-6MVC)
59
at
65
Missouri St.
12-12 (6-5MVC)
1
2
F
Southern Illinois
23
36
59
Missouri State
36
29
65
Early deficit downs Salukis at Missouri State, 65-59
02/06/2019 | 10:19:00 | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Southern Illinois nearly came all the way back from a 13-point halftime deficit, but Missouri State held on for a 65-59 win on Wednesday night at JQH Arena. The Bears snapped a nine-game losing streak in the series against SIU.Â
"I thought they out-competed us, out-hustled us, out-played us," SIU head coach Barry Hinson said. "They played like they wanted to break a streak, and we didn't compete like we wanted to continue a streak. I thought that was the difference. The game was lost in the first half; it wasn't lost in the second half."
SIU (12-12, 5-6 MVC) overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to win at Bradley on Saturday, but Missouri State's Jarred Dixon hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half to give MSU (12-12, 6-5 MVC)Â a 13-point lead at the break tonight. SIU came all the way back to take the lead with five minutes to play, thanks in part to a stifling defense that limited the Bears to 14 points in the second half's opening 15 minutes. But MSU scored 15 points in the game's final five minutes to pull out the win.Â
Free-throw shooting was a big difference in the game. SIU's defense came into the game among the nation's top-20 in limiting opponent free throws, but Missouri State managed to get to the line 25 times, the most for an SIU opponent since the season opener at Kentucky. The Salukis struggled from the line, going 5-for-13. SIU had only nine turnovers in the game, but also had a season-low five assists.Â
"When you play on the road, you have to make free throws, and we were 5-for-13; you have to guard your tails off, and we gave up 50 percent; and you have to rebound, and we did that," Hinson said. "You can't turn the ball over, and we didn't do that, but we didn't share the ball well, either."
SIU center Kavion Pippen was unstoppable, matching his career high with 24 points. Pippen had 16 points in the second half alone and finished with 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.
"Not only was he determined, we were determined to get him the basketball," Hinson said. "Certainly, that was the game plan to start, and we didn't do it at all. We know we can feed him the ball. This league has always been about matchups. It's always been that way, and we felt like we had a really good matchup there. We wanted to get him the ball more. In the second half, we settled down and got him the ball."
Aaron Cook (11 points) was the only other Saluki to reach double-figures. Jarred Dixon (19 points) and Keandre Cook (12 points) led Missouri State and hit the game's clutch baskets. When SIU first tied the game with 10 minutes to play, Dixon gave MSU the lead back. After SIU tied it again with eight minutes to go, Cook hit the clutch 3-pointer. After Cook gave SIU its first lead of the second half with 5:18 remaining, Josh Webster tied the game with a layup, and Cook hit a 3-pointer to give Missouri State the lead for good.Â
SIU hosts Evansville on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in SIU Arena.Â
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"I thought they out-competed us, out-hustled us, out-played us," SIU head coach Barry Hinson said. "They played like they wanted to break a streak, and we didn't compete like we wanted to continue a streak. I thought that was the difference. The game was lost in the first half; it wasn't lost in the second half."
SIU (12-12, 5-6 MVC) overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to win at Bradley on Saturday, but Missouri State's Jarred Dixon hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half to give MSU (12-12, 6-5 MVC)Â a 13-point lead at the break tonight. SIU came all the way back to take the lead with five minutes to play, thanks in part to a stifling defense that limited the Bears to 14 points in the second half's opening 15 minutes. But MSU scored 15 points in the game's final five minutes to pull out the win.Â
Free-throw shooting was a big difference in the game. SIU's defense came into the game among the nation's top-20 in limiting opponent free throws, but Missouri State managed to get to the line 25 times, the most for an SIU opponent since the season opener at Kentucky. The Salukis struggled from the line, going 5-for-13. SIU had only nine turnovers in the game, but also had a season-low five assists.Â
"When you play on the road, you have to make free throws, and we were 5-for-13; you have to guard your tails off, and we gave up 50 percent; and you have to rebound, and we did that," Hinson said. "You can't turn the ball over, and we didn't do that, but we didn't share the ball well, either."
SIU center Kavion Pippen was unstoppable, matching his career high with 24 points. Pippen had 16 points in the second half alone and finished with 10 rebounds to complete the double-double.
"Not only was he determined, we were determined to get him the basketball," Hinson said. "Certainly, that was the game plan to start, and we didn't do it at all. We know we can feed him the ball. This league has always been about matchups. It's always been that way, and we felt like we had a really good matchup there. We wanted to get him the ball more. In the second half, we settled down and got him the ball."
Aaron Cook (11 points) was the only other Saluki to reach double-figures. Jarred Dixon (19 points) and Keandre Cook (12 points) led Missouri State and hit the game's clutch baskets. When SIU first tied the game with 10 minutes to play, Dixon gave MSU the lead back. After SIU tied it again with eight minutes to go, Cook hit the clutch 3-pointer. After Cook gave SIU its first lead of the second half with 5:18 remaining, Josh Webster tied the game with a layup, and Cook hit a 3-pointer to give Missouri State the lead for good.Â
SIU hosts Evansville on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in SIU Arena.Â
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Team Stats
SIU
MSU
FG%
.491
.477
3FG%
.250
.316
FT%
.385
.680
RB
31
27
TO
9
7
STL
3
4
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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