SIU hits the road to face Bradley

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PEORIA, Ill. - After back-to-back home wins, the SIU men's basketball program hits the road for a 7 p.m. game on Saturday at Bradley. The Braves are 9-0 at home this season and were picked second in the preseason MVC poll.

SIU (8-8, 2-1 MVC) at Bradley (11-5, 2-1 MVC)

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OPENING TIP

The SIU men's basketball team travels to Bradley for a 7 p.m. game on Saturday night at Carver Arena.
Bradley was picked second in the preseason MVC poll, gathering five first-place votes. The Braves are undefeated at home (9-0) and SIU is looking for its first true road win (0-5). [SIU has one neutral-site win, over UTSA in Kissimmee, Fla.]
SIU leads the MVC and ranks 16th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 60.2 points per game.
SIU has won four of its last five games. In each of the four wins, SIU held its opponent to its lowest point total of the season.
SIU has held 7 of its 16 opponents to their lowest or second-lowest scoring game of the season.
Through three MVC games, SIU leads the league in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
SIU graduate student Ronnie Suggs Jr. played at Bradley in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Suggs is coming off arguably his best game as a Saluki. He had 4 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists (vs. only 1 turnover), and 2 steals in the win over Valpo. He also limited Valpo star Javon Freeman-Liberty to 6-of-21 from the field.
Marcus Domask is one of only seven freshmen in the nation averaging at least 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Domask leads all MVC freshmen in scoring and rebounding.
Since 1992-93 (first year available on Sports Reference), only three MVC freshman have averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game: Milton Doyle (Loyola, 2013-14), Shea Seals (Tulsa, 1993-94), and Colt Ryan (Evansville, 2009-10). Marcus Domask is on pace to join that group.
Domask ranks second among MVC freshman in assists; teammate Lance Jones leads MVC freshman with 3.0 assists per game.
Dawg Bites: In the last four games, SIU center Barret Benson is averaging 16.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per 40 minutes ... Against Valpo, SIU won the game without winning any of the 'specialty stats': paint points, fast-break points, bench points, second-chance points, and points off turnovers ... SIU has won 24-straight games when it scores 75+, dating back to the 2016-17 season ... SIU is 7-0 when it has 15+ assists and 1-8 when it has 14 or fewer assists.

SUGGS RETURNS TO BRADLEY

SIU graduate student Ronnie Suggs Jr. is returning to Bradley, where he played as a freshman and sophomore from 2015-17.
One of Suggs best games actually game against SIU. He was Bradley's leading scorer with 12 points in a loss to the Salukis as a freshman in 2015-16.
SIU graduated six seniors last year, and only Aaron Cook and Eric McGill return with much MVC experience. In the MVC opener, Cook (broken hand) and McGill (flu) were out, which made Suggs, from his two seasons at Bradley, the only SIU player who played that had any MVC experience.
Suggs is coming off arguably his best game as a Saluki: 4 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists (vs. only 1 turnover) and 2 steals in the win over Valpo. He also led the defensive effort against Valpo star Javon Freeman-Liberty, who was held to 6-of-21 shooting. "I told him in the locker room: He was the player of the game," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said.

BENSON, SENIORS STEP UP BIG

SIU graduate transfer Barret Benson has been oustanding as SIU's primary post player this season. Benson is averaging 10.1 points on 56% shooting.
In the last four games, Benson is nearly averaging a double-double (9.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg). His per-40 stats: 16.2 ppg, 13.6 rpg.
SIU's three available seniors (McGill, Benson, and Ronnie Suggs Jr.) combined for 38 points in SIU's win over Illinois State on Saturday.
The trio then combined for 22 points and 19 rebounds in the win over Valpo on Tuesday.
SIU is 3-0 when both McGill and Benson score in double-figures.

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

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Barret Benson

Marcus Domask

Lance Jones

Eric McGill

Ronnie Suggs Jr.

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