Wednesday, February 12
Valparaiso, Ind.
7 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
15-11,9-4MVC
38
at
55
Valparaiso
13-13,6-7MVC
1
2
F
Southern Ill.
16
22
38
Valparaiso
28
27
55
Photo by: T.H. Weber
Valpo snaps SIU's seven-game winning streak
02/12/2020 | 9:32:00 | Men's Basketball
VALPARAISO, Ind. - The SIU men's basketball team's seven-game winning streak was snapped at Valparaiso on Wednesday night, 55-38.
"Give all the credit to Valpo," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said. "They outplayed us. They did a great job guarding us all night. We have to play better if we expect to have success in this league."
SIU (15-11, 9-4 MVC) struggled offensively, shooting 24 percent for the game. SIU did well enough defensively against Valpo (13-13, 6-7 MVC) -- now two of Valpo's three lowest-scoring games this season are against SIU -- to keep the game within striking distance most of the way, but the Salukis couldn't put together enough offense to get over the hump.
"Missing some easy shots early -- some layups and some 3's -- took us out of rhythm," Mullins said. "We could never string together 3-4 minutes of good basketball throughout the night."
The Salukis were 13-of-55 (24%) from the field and 5-of-28 (18%) from the 3-point line. Even at the free throw line, where SIU has been good this year, the Salukis went 7-of-12 (58%). One example of how it just wasn't SIU's night -- Ronnie Suggs Jr., who had made 20 consecutive free throws and was shooting 92% on the season, missed both ends of a two-shot foul early in the second half.
The Salukis scored field goals on consecutive possessions only once in the game; a Marcus Domask layup and Lance Jones 3-pointer gave SIU an 8-5 lead. But after that, SIU went cold. The Salukis hit only one field goal in the next 13 minutes. SIU trailed 28-16 at halftime.
In the opening six minutes of the second half, SIU had its chance to make a move. The Salukis held Valpo to 2-of-9 from the field and forced four Crusader turnovers in the first six minutes. But SIU just couldn't get on track offensively, going 2-for-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from the free throw line in that same stretch. From there, SIU never got the back back withing single digits.
Valpo's Ben Krikke scored a game-high 15 points, followed by Javon Freeman-Liberty's 14. Eric McGill led SIU with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
The loss snapped SIU's seven-game winning streak, which was the program's longest winning streak in 13 years. The winning streak made SIU the talk of the MVC -- four of the seven wins came by three points or fewer, vaulting SIU from a preseason last-place pick to a second-place darling.
And now, to protect second place in the league, the Salukis have to face Bradley, who is fully healthy and the league's defending tournament champion. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Banterra Center in Carbondale.
"We have to play better than we're playing right now," Mullins said. "Even (back to the games) against Evansville and Missouri State, we have to be better if we want to beat Bradley or anyone else in this league. We have a good couple days of practice. It's a quick turnaround, but I know our guys will be ready for the challenge."
UP NEXT: SIU hosts Bradley at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Banterra Center. Tickets are available at SIUSalukis.com/tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS during regular business hours.
"Give all the credit to Valpo," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said. "They outplayed us. They did a great job guarding us all night. We have to play better if we expect to have success in this league."
SIU (15-11, 9-4 MVC) struggled offensively, shooting 24 percent for the game. SIU did well enough defensively against Valpo (13-13, 6-7 MVC) -- now two of Valpo's three lowest-scoring games this season are against SIU -- to keep the game within striking distance most of the way, but the Salukis couldn't put together enough offense to get over the hump.
"Missing some easy shots early -- some layups and some 3's -- took us out of rhythm," Mullins said. "We could never string together 3-4 minutes of good basketball throughout the night."
The Salukis were 13-of-55 (24%) from the field and 5-of-28 (18%) from the 3-point line. Even at the free throw line, where SIU has been good this year, the Salukis went 7-of-12 (58%). One example of how it just wasn't SIU's night -- Ronnie Suggs Jr., who had made 20 consecutive free throws and was shooting 92% on the season, missed both ends of a two-shot foul early in the second half.
The Salukis scored field goals on consecutive possessions only once in the game; a Marcus Domask layup and Lance Jones 3-pointer gave SIU an 8-5 lead. But after that, SIU went cold. The Salukis hit only one field goal in the next 13 minutes. SIU trailed 28-16 at halftime.
In the opening six minutes of the second half, SIU had its chance to make a move. The Salukis held Valpo to 2-of-9 from the field and forced four Crusader turnovers in the first six minutes. But SIU just couldn't get on track offensively, going 2-for-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from the free throw line in that same stretch. From there, SIU never got the back back withing single digits.
Valpo's Ben Krikke scored a game-high 15 points, followed by Javon Freeman-Liberty's 14. Eric McGill led SIU with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
The loss snapped SIU's seven-game winning streak, which was the program's longest winning streak in 13 years. The winning streak made SIU the talk of the MVC -- four of the seven wins came by three points or fewer, vaulting SIU from a preseason last-place pick to a second-place darling.
And now, to protect second place in the league, the Salukis have to face Bradley, who is fully healthy and the league's defending tournament champion. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Banterra Center in Carbondale.
"We have to play better than we're playing right now," Mullins said. "Even (back to the games) against Evansville and Missouri State, we have to be better if we want to beat Bradley or anyone else in this league. We have a good couple days of practice. It's a quick turnaround, but I know our guys will be ready for the challenge."
UP NEXT: SIU hosts Bradley at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Banterra Center. Tickets are available at SIUSalukis.com/tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS during regular business hours.
Team Stats
SIU
Valpo
FG%
.236
.449
3FG%
.179
.250
FT%
.583
.727
RB
35
38
TO
15
17
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
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