Wednesday, January 4
Carbondale, IL
7 PM
Southern Illinois University
vs
Drake
Salukis Host Preseason Favorite Drake in Valley Showdown Wednesday
01/03/2023 | 11:14:00 | Men's Basketball
Fans can get $6 tickets in the Dawg Pound by using promo code “SIX” at SIUSalukis.com/Promo.
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Riding a six-game winning streak, Southern Illinois men's basketball will play host to preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Drake Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Banterra Center. Fans can get $6 tickets in the Dawg Pound by using promo code "SIX" at SIUSalukis.com/Promo.
THE BROADCAST
• The game will be available nationally on ESPN Plus with Tom Ackerman (play-by-play) and Dan Muller (analyst) calling the action.
• The radio broadcast can be heard on the Saluki Radio Network with SIU Hall of Famer Mike Reis (play-by-play) and Rodney Watson (analyst) on the call.
QUICK HITS
• Southern Illinois has won its last six games. The last time SIU won seven-straight games was during the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season when the Salukis started the season with seven-straight wins. The streak is tied for the longest in the league this year (Drake).
• The Saluki defense put on a show in the second half against Belmont, holding the high-powered Bruins offense to just seven points over the final 15 minutes of the game. Belmont entered play averaging 76.1 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent from behind the arc – the best in the MVC. SIU held the Bruins to just 4-for-22 in the win. SIU ranks 19th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 60.5 points per game.
• SIU's four turnovers against Murray State is the fewest for the Salukis in a game since the 2017-18 season when Southern turned the ball over four times against Duquesne. It tied for the 19th-best (fewest turnovers) in a game this year.
• Marcus Domask and Lance Jones combined to score the final 20 points against Murray State.
• SIU's 60.5 points allowed per game is second in the MVC and 20th nationally.
• The Salukis are holding opponents to just 29.2 percent from behind the arc -- ranking first in the MVC and 36th nationally.
• SIU's 7.9 steals per game is second in the MVC. Lance Jones leads the team with 1.8 steals per game and has recorded multiple steals in nine games with a career-high six coming against Evansville.
• Marcus Domask (23rd-1,326) and Lance Jones (25th-1,268) each rank in the top-25 in program history in points scored.
• Lance Jones leads the Salukis with 34 3-pointers this season. The senior has made 169 threes over his career to rank eighth in program history.
• Xavier Johnson ranks third on the team during Valley play with 9.5 points per contest. The guard is shooting 50 percent from behind the arc and has 14 assists and just six turnovers in League play.
• Clarence Rupert is shooting 70 percent (49-70) -- the best of any Saluki with more than 10 attempts. The forward has shot 100 percent from the field in three games this season, including a pair of 6-for-6 outings.
• After suffering an injury after the season opener against Little Rock, big man Scottie Ebube has been cleared to return to practice. Ebube scored nine and had six rebounds against the Trojans.
• The Salukis check in at No. 23 in the latest CollegeInsider.com men's basketball mid-major poll.
THE MATCHUP
• Wednesday's meeting with the Bulldogs will be the 101st between the two programs. Southern Illinois leads the all-time series 60-40, including a 34-13 record in Carbondale. Drake has won seven of the last 10 meetings, including five straight in the series.
• Drake enters play at 11-4 overall and 2-2 in MVC play after dropping its last game on the road at Missouri State. The Bulldogs are scoring at a clip of 73.5 points per game while holding opponents to 64 points. DU is led by Preseason First Team All-MVC forward Tucker DeVries who leads the team with 18.7 points per game to go along with 5.9 rebounds. Roman Penn adds 10.8 points and a team-best of 4.1 assists per game. Darnell Brodie mans the middle for Drake averaging 7.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a team-high 12 blocks.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Basketball, on Instagram at @SIU_Basketball and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
THE BROADCAST
• The game will be available nationally on ESPN Plus with Tom Ackerman (play-by-play) and Dan Muller (analyst) calling the action.
• The radio broadcast can be heard on the Saluki Radio Network with SIU Hall of Famer Mike Reis (play-by-play) and Rodney Watson (analyst) on the call.
QUICK HITS
• Southern Illinois has won its last six games. The last time SIU won seven-straight games was during the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season when the Salukis started the season with seven-straight wins. The streak is tied for the longest in the league this year (Drake).
• The Saluki defense put on a show in the second half against Belmont, holding the high-powered Bruins offense to just seven points over the final 15 minutes of the game. Belmont entered play averaging 76.1 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent from behind the arc – the best in the MVC. SIU held the Bruins to just 4-for-22 in the win. SIU ranks 19th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 60.5 points per game.
• SIU's four turnovers against Murray State is the fewest for the Salukis in a game since the 2017-18 season when Southern turned the ball over four times against Duquesne. It tied for the 19th-best (fewest turnovers) in a game this year.
• Marcus Domask and Lance Jones combined to score the final 20 points against Murray State.
• SIU's 60.5 points allowed per game is second in the MVC and 20th nationally.
• The Salukis are holding opponents to just 29.2 percent from behind the arc -- ranking first in the MVC and 36th nationally.
• SIU's 7.9 steals per game is second in the MVC. Lance Jones leads the team with 1.8 steals per game and has recorded multiple steals in nine games with a career-high six coming against Evansville.
• Marcus Domask (23rd-1,326) and Lance Jones (25th-1,268) each rank in the top-25 in program history in points scored.
• Lance Jones leads the Salukis with 34 3-pointers this season. The senior has made 169 threes over his career to rank eighth in program history.
• Xavier Johnson ranks third on the team during Valley play with 9.5 points per contest. The guard is shooting 50 percent from behind the arc and has 14 assists and just six turnovers in League play.
• Clarence Rupert is shooting 70 percent (49-70) -- the best of any Saluki with more than 10 attempts. The forward has shot 100 percent from the field in three games this season, including a pair of 6-for-6 outings.
• After suffering an injury after the season opener against Little Rock, big man Scottie Ebube has been cleared to return to practice. Ebube scored nine and had six rebounds against the Trojans.
• The Salukis check in at No. 23 in the latest CollegeInsider.com men's basketball mid-major poll.
THE MATCHUP
• Wednesday's meeting with the Bulldogs will be the 101st between the two programs. Southern Illinois leads the all-time series 60-40, including a 34-13 record in Carbondale. Drake has won seven of the last 10 meetings, including five straight in the series.
• Drake enters play at 11-4 overall and 2-2 in MVC play after dropping its last game on the road at Missouri State. The Bulldogs are scoring at a clip of 73.5 points per game while holding opponents to 64 points. DU is led by Preseason First Team All-MVC forward Tucker DeVries who leads the team with 18.7 points per game to go along with 5.9 rebounds. Roman Penn adds 10.8 points and a team-best of 4.1 assists per game. Darnell Brodie mans the middle for Drake averaging 7.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a team-high 12 blocks.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Basketball, on Instagram at @SIU_Basketball and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball12.5.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - 2025 Season Recap
Saturday, December 06
Saluki Radio Broadcast at High Point
Thursday, December 04
11.3.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at High Point - Scott Nagy
Thursday, December 04
11.3.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at High Point -Damien Mayo Jr.
Thursday, December 04