Southern Illinois University
2-1,0-0MVC
Colorado
3-1,0-0Pac-12
Men's Basketball tops Colorado, 67-63, at Paradise Jam
11/19/2021 | 9:32:00 | Men's Basketball
Salukis advance to Paradise Jam semifinals with first Power 5 win since 2008.
The Salukis (2-1) picked up their first win over a Power Five opponent since beating Oklahoma State in the NIT in 2008. Last year, Southern beat Butler of the Big East for a Power Six win.
SIU trailed the Buffaloes (3-1), 12-1, just three minutes into the contest, but slowly chipped away before taking a 15-14 lead on a Ben Coupet, Jr. 3-pointer with seven minutes left in the first half. Southern did so behind a strong defensive effort, coupled with timely baskets that quelled any big run opportunities for the previously undefeated Buffaloes.
Colorado, who came in averaging a robust 41 points per first half this season, were held to a season-low 19 points as the Salukis swarmed Colorado's ball handlers and went right at returning All-PAC 12 selection Evan Battey, who was sent to the bench after he picked up his second foul with just under 10 minutes to go in the first half. With Battey on the bench, the Salukis outscored the Buffaloes, 17-5 to take a 27-19 lead into the half.
"To hold a team that is averaging 90 points a game to just 19 first half points, that's a special defensive effort," head coach Bryan Mullins said. "In the second half they were able to score inside with their guards and post up our guards and we need to clean that up. Overall, we never let an 8-0, 10-0 or 12-0 run happen. They went on a couple of 4-0 runs but we made a basket and we were right back in it."
Southern's trio of bigs, J.D. Muila, Kyler Filewich and Anthony D'Avanzo, drew the task of checking Battey as well as returning All-PAC 12 freshman team selection Jabari Walker and held the duo to just five first half points.
"To have J.D., Kyler and Anthony rotate in, they each play extremely hard and give us different looks defensively and offensively," Mullins said. "They used all their fouls tonight but they did a great job on both Battey and Walker. It was important to get those early fouls on Battey and our guys did a good job defensively on him."
With SIU's bigs leading the way defensively, the Salukis leaned on returning All-MVC honoree Marcus Domask as well as Steven Verplancken, Jr. to carry the load. Domask scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half while Verplancken put together year another efficient night from the field. The San Pedro, Dom. Rep. native went 7-for-10 from the floor, which included 4-of-7 from long range for a game-high 18 points. Verplancken was especially key to Southern's first half run, as he scored 10 points in the first stanza with no bigger basket than his three at the first half horn that gave the Salukis an eight point lead at the intermission.
"My shot has felt great all trip," Verplancken, Jr. said. "My teammates and the coaching staff tell me to shoot more and they get on me when I don't. They give me the confidence so I just trust the work I've put in and I let it fly."
The Salukis led for the entirety of the second half to seal the win. The period wasn't without drama though, as the Buffaloes made it a one-possession game on several occasions, which included making it a two-point game with 1:33 to go in regulation. Southern remained poised though, as they rattled off seven-straight points to put the game out of reach.
The Salukis will now have a day off to prepare for Northeastern, who disposed of Duquesne, 71-55 in the third game of the 2021 Paradise Jam Friday. The two teams will vie for a spot in Monday's title game at 7 p.m. CT Sunday.
"This is a great opportunity for our guys," Mullins said. "We have a chance to compete for a championship this early in the season, and that's how we framed it to them. We wanted this opportunity to play a BCS opponent on a neutral floor and these are the games that not only we want to play in, but expect to win. For us, we've got to regroup and refocus and we've got another huge opportunity on Sunday."
Notes:
SIU's win over Colorado was its fourth all-time win over a PAC-12 school, and first since downing the Buffaloes in the NIT in 2000 ..The Salukis improved to 2-2 all-time against PAC 12 opponents in neutral site games (4-12 overall) … It was SIU's 35th all-time win over a Power 5 conference foe, of which 17 have now come at neutral sites …Southern improved to 2-2 at MTEs in the Mullins era ... Southern made a season-best 12 three-pointers in the win on a season-high 41-percent shooting from behind the arc … it marks the seventh tine that SIU has made 10-plus three-pointers while shooting 40-percent or better from behind the arc under Mullins (4-3 in those games) … Overall its the 11th time that the Salukis have made double-digit three-pointers in a game in the Mullins era and are 7-4 in those games … It marks the second time already this season that SIU has made double-digit threes while also holding an opponent to five or fewer triples … Southern accomplished that feat twice all of last season … SIU has held all three of its 2021-22 opponents to five or fewer three-pointers this season and have done so 22 times (11-11) in three seasons under Mullins .. Dalton Banks made a career-high five free throws … Domask has reached double-figures in four-straight and in eight of his last nine games … Jones has put up double-digit points in three-straight and in nine of his last 10 games … Verplancken has now reached double-figures 12 times as a Saluki and has done so 37 times during his collegiate career (25 times while at Glenville State) … Domask has scored 10-plus in 33 of his 45 career games ... Sunday's matchup will mark the fourth-ever meeting between Northeastern and SIU … Northeastern holds a 2-1 lead in the all-time series … The Salukis lone win over the Huskies came in the 1962 NCAA Tournament - a 73-57 win on March 15, 1962 … Southern is 5-5 all-time against Colonial Athletic Conference opponents … First time the Salukis will face a CAA foe since 2019 (Delaware) … Southern's last win over a CAA opponent came on Dec. 21, 1996 with a 74-67 win over James Madison, who recently announced they are leaving the CAA for the Sun Belt Conference …
