Tuesday, November 21
Cancun, MX
5 PM CT / 6 PM ET
Southern Illinois University
3-1,0-0MVC
76
vs
82
James Madison
5-0,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
James Madison
40
42
82
Southern Ill.
39
37
76
Recap | Johnson scores 38 points in 82-76 loss to No. 22 James Madison
11/21/2023 | 7:29:00 | Men's Basketball
CANCUN, Mexico — Southern Illinois overcame a 16-point deficit, but couldn't overcome severe foul trouble in an 82-76 loss to No. 22 James Madison on Tuesday night at the Cancun Challenge.
SIU point guard Xavier Johnson scored a career-high and tied the Cancun Challenge single-game scoring mark with 38 points, including 22 in the first half to lead a stunning comeback that would eventually find Southern up by five. It was the most points by a Saluki player since Carlton Fay's 38 points versus Western Michigan in 2010.
The Salukis (3-1) trailed, 29-13, midway through the first half and had both of its big men — Clarence Rupert and Scottie Ebube — saddled with two fouls. Rupert picked up both of his in the first minute of play. The duo combined to play just 17 minutes and finished with four fouls apiece.
"We didn't get off to a great start and battled back," head coach Bryan Mullins said after the game. "I thought they showed a lot of poise and a lot of competitiveness to get back in the ballgame."
"James Madison is a very good team – deserving of their ranking," Mullins continued. "We were right there at the end of the game, but we just have to be able to get more stops than we did in the last four minutes."
Johnson scored 16 points in the span of nine minutes, as Southern closed the deficit to one at halftime. Southern took its first lead, 41-40, on a Rupert layup on the first possession of the second half.
The Salukis took their biggest lead, 60-55, on a pair of Johnson free throws to cap an 8-0 run with 9:38 remaining.
Johnson, however, picked up his fourth foul with 9:25 to go, and the Dukes (5-0) went on a 8-0 run with Johnson on the bench to reclaim the lead.
SIU took its last lead, 67-65, on a step-back three by Johnson with 4:34 left. James Madison countered with a 7-0 run to regain the upper hand.
Southern cut the deficit to 74-72 on a 3-ball by Trent Brown with 1:49, but the Dukes closed the game on an 8-4 run.
Johnson was 11-of-20 from the field, 4-of-9 from three and made all 12 of his free throws. He added six rebounds, three assists a block and two steals.
Troy D'Amico added 12 points and five assists for Southern, and Jovan Stulic came off the bench to score 10 points and grab nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
Salukis will play in the third-place game of the Cancun Challenge -- the loser of the Fresno State and New Mexico State game Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
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.
SIU point guard Xavier Johnson scored a career-high and tied the Cancun Challenge single-game scoring mark with 38 points, including 22 in the first half to lead a stunning comeback that would eventually find Southern up by five. It was the most points by a Saluki player since Carlton Fay's 38 points versus Western Michigan in 2010.
The Salukis (3-1) trailed, 29-13, midway through the first half and had both of its big men — Clarence Rupert and Scottie Ebube — saddled with two fouls. Rupert picked up both of his in the first minute of play. The duo combined to play just 17 minutes and finished with four fouls apiece.
"We didn't get off to a great start and battled back," head coach Bryan Mullins said after the game. "I thought they showed a lot of poise and a lot of competitiveness to get back in the ballgame."
"James Madison is a very good team – deserving of their ranking," Mullins continued. "We were right there at the end of the game, but we just have to be able to get more stops than we did in the last four minutes."
Johnson scored 16 points in the span of nine minutes, as Southern closed the deficit to one at halftime. Southern took its first lead, 41-40, on a Rupert layup on the first possession of the second half.
The Salukis took their biggest lead, 60-55, on a pair of Johnson free throws to cap an 8-0 run with 9:38 remaining.
Johnson, however, picked up his fourth foul with 9:25 to go, and the Dukes (5-0) went on a 8-0 run with Johnson on the bench to reclaim the lead.
SIU took its last lead, 67-65, on a step-back three by Johnson with 4:34 left. James Madison countered with a 7-0 run to regain the upper hand.
Southern cut the deficit to 74-72 on a 3-ball by Trent Brown with 1:49, but the Dukes closed the game on an 8-4 run.
Johnson was 11-of-20 from the field, 4-of-9 from three and made all 12 of his free throws. He added six rebounds, three assists a block and two steals.
Troy D'Amico added 12 points and five assists for Southern, and Jovan Stulic came off the bench to score 10 points and grab nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
Salukis will play in the third-place game of the Cancun Challenge -- the loser of the Fresno State and New Mexico State game Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
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.
Team Stats
JMU
SIU
FG%
.525
.449
3FG%
.385
.375
FT%
.536
.821
RB
34
28
TO
12
15
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
38
FGM
11
3FGM
4
FTM
12
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - Vinson Davis
Sunday, September 21
9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - DJ Williams
Sunday, September 21
9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - Chris Presto
Sunday, September 21
9.21.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at SEMO - Nick Hill
Sunday, September 21