Saturday, February 8
Carbondale, Ill.
7 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
15-10,9-3MVC
68
vs
66
Missouri State
11-14,5-7MVC
1
2
F
Missouri St.
41
25
66
Southern Ill.
43
25
68
Photo by: T.H. Weber
Domask's buzzer-beater tops Missouri State, 68-66
02/08/2020 | 9:54:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Marcus Domask took one dribble and hit a heavily contested 18-foot jump shot at the buzzer to send the SIU men's basketball program to a 68-66 win over Missouri State on Saturday night at Banterra Center. Ronnie Suggs Jr. made the full-court pass, and Domask's shot gave SIU its seventh-straight Missouri Valley Conference win and 10th-straight win in front of the home crowd at Banterra Center.
"That's the reason why home court is so special, right there. With that crowd and that energy, that's why we play the game," Domask said. "If you could just have that vision that I had when I turned around a saw the crowd go crazy, it's just unbelievable."
Domask hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game, 66-66, with 37 seconds left. Missouri State (11-14, 5-7 MVC) missed, but got the offensive rebound with 6 seconds left. Missouri State'a Ja'Monte Black missed the ensuing 3-pointer, and SIU's Barret Benson grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 1.6 seconds left, setting the stage for Domask's buzzer beater.
"These kids are winners," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said. "They love to compete; they love to find ways to win. This team is doing that right now. It's fun to be a part of, and I love coaching this group."
---
Listen » Mullins Postgame | Domask Postgame | Highlights
Watch » The Shot
---
Until Domask's game-winner, Benson was the hero for SIU (15-10, 9-3 MVC). The grad transfer center hadn't practiced with a sprained ankle, but battled through it for the game tonight. Against Missouri State's formidable inside duo of Tulio Da Silva and Gaige Prim, it was Benson who was the game's high scorer with 24 points.
"Barret went toe-to-toe. He was determined to play, and he gave us a great lift," Mullins said.
The game was two highly physical, highly competitive, but yet very different halves. In the high-scoring first half, SIU both scored its most points in a first half this season and also allowed its most points in a first half this season. The Salukis led 43-41 at halftime. In the second half, SIU couldn't buy a bucket, going 1-for-13 from the 3-point line, and Missouri State committed 10 second-half turnovers.
SIU's crowds have been electric all season, but tonight's was at a different level. Before Domask's winner sent the crowd of 6,528 into a complete frenzy, the fans were charged up all game. Missouri State raced out to a 21-11 lead. But the crowd came to its feet, and SIU held Missouri State scoreless for the next five full minutes en route to a 12-0 run. Even when SIU struggled offensively in the second half, the crowd seemed to will the team to the win. At one point, after Trent Brown made a hustle play on the sideline to save a possession, the entire arena rocked with an "S-I-U" chant.
"That's what we're about -- those extra-effort plays, the 50-50 balls, the toughness," Mullins said. "All of that stuff matters, and all off that stuff wins games. It might not show up on the stat sheet, but there's a reason why we've been successful."
"The best thing about this team is: sometimes, when things start to click, they start to relax, like they've made it. Everyone on this team has a chip on their shoulder," Domask said.
SIU improbably won its seventh-straight game. The Salukis, who were picked last in the MVC preseason poll, were once 4-7 this season. Since, then the Salukis are 11-3 and have won seven-straight MVC games to sit at 9-3 in the league, a game behind first-place Northern Iowa in the standings.
"I'm happy for the guys because it didn't happen overnight or these last couple weeks," Mullins said of the team's turnaround. "It started in June with the workouts and has continued throughout the whole year, and that's why they're having success right now."
UP NEXT: SIU travels to Valparaiso on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game.
NOTES: SIU has won seven-straight MVC games and 10-straight home games ... SIU has overcame three separate double-digit deficits during its active seven-game winning streak ... SIU's 10-game home court winning streak is the program's longest since a 15-game home winning streak spanned three seasons (end of 2005-06, entire 2006-07, and start of 2007-08 seasons) ... Barret Benson set a career high with 24 points ... Eric McGill played all 40 minutes ... SIU committed only eight turnovers in the game ... Before Jan. 22, SIU had only played four games decided by single digits all season, and was 0-4 in those games. Since Jan. 22, SIU has played six-consecutive games decided by single digits and won all of them ... SIU's last six wins are by a combined 23 points ... SIU's seven-game winning streak is the longest active winning streak in the MVC ... SIU is 10-1 in its last 11 games against Missouri State ... SIU's crowd of 6,528 was its largest in more than four years (sellout 8,284 vs. Wichita State, 2016).
"That's the reason why home court is so special, right there. With that crowd and that energy, that's why we play the game," Domask said. "If you could just have that vision that I had when I turned around a saw the crowd go crazy, it's just unbelievable."
Domask hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game, 66-66, with 37 seconds left. Missouri State (11-14, 5-7 MVC) missed, but got the offensive rebound with 6 seconds left. Missouri State'a Ja'Monte Black missed the ensuing 3-pointer, and SIU's Barret Benson grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 1.6 seconds left, setting the stage for Domask's buzzer beater.
"These kids are winners," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said. "They love to compete; they love to find ways to win. This team is doing that right now. It's fun to be a part of, and I love coaching this group."
---
Listen » Mullins Postgame | Domask Postgame | Highlights
Watch » The Shot
---
Until Domask's game-winner, Benson was the hero for SIU (15-10, 9-3 MVC). The grad transfer center hadn't practiced with a sprained ankle, but battled through it for the game tonight. Against Missouri State's formidable inside duo of Tulio Da Silva and Gaige Prim, it was Benson who was the game's high scorer with 24 points.
"Barret went toe-to-toe. He was determined to play, and he gave us a great lift," Mullins said.
The game was two highly physical, highly competitive, but yet very different halves. In the high-scoring first half, SIU both scored its most points in a first half this season and also allowed its most points in a first half this season. The Salukis led 43-41 at halftime. In the second half, SIU couldn't buy a bucket, going 1-for-13 from the 3-point line, and Missouri State committed 10 second-half turnovers.
SIU's crowds have been electric all season, but tonight's was at a different level. Before Domask's winner sent the crowd of 6,528 into a complete frenzy, the fans were charged up all game. Missouri State raced out to a 21-11 lead. But the crowd came to its feet, and SIU held Missouri State scoreless for the next five full minutes en route to a 12-0 run. Even when SIU struggled offensively in the second half, the crowd seemed to will the team to the win. At one point, after Trent Brown made a hustle play on the sideline to save a possession, the entire arena rocked with an "S-I-U" chant.
"That's what we're about -- those extra-effort plays, the 50-50 balls, the toughness," Mullins said. "All of that stuff matters, and all off that stuff wins games. It might not show up on the stat sheet, but there's a reason why we've been successful."
"The best thing about this team is: sometimes, when things start to click, they start to relax, like they've made it. Everyone on this team has a chip on their shoulder," Domask said.
SIU improbably won its seventh-straight game. The Salukis, who were picked last in the MVC preseason poll, were once 4-7 this season. Since, then the Salukis are 11-3 and have won seven-straight MVC games to sit at 9-3 in the league, a game behind first-place Northern Iowa in the standings.
"I'm happy for the guys because it didn't happen overnight or these last couple weeks," Mullins said of the team's turnaround. "It started in June with the workouts and has continued throughout the whole year, and that's why they're having success right now."
UP NEXT: SIU travels to Valparaiso on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game.
NOTES: SIU has won seven-straight MVC games and 10-straight home games ... SIU has overcame three separate double-digit deficits during its active seven-game winning streak ... SIU's 10-game home court winning streak is the program's longest since a 15-game home winning streak spanned three seasons (end of 2005-06, entire 2006-07, and start of 2007-08 seasons) ... Barret Benson set a career high with 24 points ... Eric McGill played all 40 minutes ... SIU committed only eight turnovers in the game ... Before Jan. 22, SIU had only played four games decided by single digits all season, and was 0-4 in those games. Since Jan. 22, SIU has played six-consecutive games decided by single digits and won all of them ... SIU's last six wins are by a combined 23 points ... SIU's seven-game winning streak is the longest active winning streak in the MVC ... SIU is 10-1 in its last 11 games against Missouri State ... SIU's crowd of 6,528 was its largest in more than four years (sellout 8,284 vs. Wichita State, 2016).
Team Stats
MSU
SIU
FG%
.466
.418
3FG%
.381
.292
FT%
.571
.833
RB
37
29
TO
13
8
STL
3
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
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