Saturday, January 20
Cedar Falls, IA
7 PM
Southern Illinois University
12-7,4-4MVC
57
at
61
UNI
11-8,5-3MVC
1
2
F
Southern Ill.
30
27
57
UNI
29
32
61
Photo by: Tim McCaughan
Recap | Salukis Fall at Northern Iowa, 61-57
01/20/2024 | 9:30:00 | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Southern Illinois had a chance to tie it with under five seconds left but Xavier Johnson's 3-point attempt was off, and the Salukis dropped their third-straight game on the road at Northern Iowa, 61-57.
It was a defensive slugfest from the start inside McLeod Center as both teams combined for 23 points at the midway point of the first half with UNI holding a 12-11 advantage.
Trailing 28-24 with two minutes remaining in the first, the Salukis closed the half on a 6-1 run to take a 30-29 lead into the locker room. SIU would get inside scores from Clarence Rupert, AJ Ferguson, and Troy D'Amico during the run continuing to pound the paint where SIU held an 18-12 advantage.
Ferguson and Rupert picked up the Saluki offense with 10 points apiece as SIU leading scorer Xavier Johnson was held scoreless (three attempts) for the first time this season in the first half. Rupert was a menace on the glass with eight rebounds in 15 minutes of action in the first.
Johnson would get on the scoreboard early in the second half and finish with 17 points including the last eight points for the Salukis.
SIU came out of the locker room in the second half and built a five-point lead at 41-36 following a putback dunk from Scottie Ebube. UNI would put on the defensive pressure though, holding SIU scoreless for the next six minutes to regain the lead and allow the Panther crowd to get back into the game.
Down eight with under a minute, SIU would get back-to-back 3-pointers from Johnson before his potential game-tying three with five seconds would not fall and the Panthers would convert a free throw to close out the win.
Johnson would lead SIU with all 17 of his points coming in the second half -- shooting just 5-for-18 from the field. Ferguson finished with 12 points for SIU while Rupert was the only other Saluki in double-digits with 10 points.
Three UNI players scored in double-figures led by Bowen Born who led the Panthers with 16.
UP NEXT
The Salukis return to Banterra Center for a Wednesday night tilt with Valparaiso. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking HERE. Fans can also call 877-SALUKIS or visit the SIU Ticket Office during normal business hours.
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/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
It was a defensive slugfest from the start inside McLeod Center as both teams combined for 23 points at the midway point of the first half with UNI holding a 12-11 advantage.
Trailing 28-24 with two minutes remaining in the first, the Salukis closed the half on a 6-1 run to take a 30-29 lead into the locker room. SIU would get inside scores from Clarence Rupert, AJ Ferguson, and Troy D'Amico during the run continuing to pound the paint where SIU held an 18-12 advantage.
Ferguson and Rupert picked up the Saluki offense with 10 points apiece as SIU leading scorer Xavier Johnson was held scoreless (three attempts) for the first time this season in the first half. Rupert was a menace on the glass with eight rebounds in 15 minutes of action in the first.
Johnson would get on the scoreboard early in the second half and finish with 17 points including the last eight points for the Salukis.
SIU came out of the locker room in the second half and built a five-point lead at 41-36 following a putback dunk from Scottie Ebube. UNI would put on the defensive pressure though, holding SIU scoreless for the next six minutes to regain the lead and allow the Panther crowd to get back into the game.
Down eight with under a minute, SIU would get back-to-back 3-pointers from Johnson before his potential game-tying three with five seconds would not fall and the Panthers would convert a free throw to close out the win.
Johnson would lead SIU with all 17 of his points coming in the second half -- shooting just 5-for-18 from the field. Ferguson finished with 12 points for SIU while Rupert was the only other Saluki in double-digits with 10 points.
Three UNI players scored in double-figures led by Bowen Born who led the Panthers with 16.
UP NEXT
The Salukis return to Banterra Center for a Wednesday night tilt with Valparaiso. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking HERE. Fans can also call 877-SALUKIS or visit the SIU Ticket Office during normal business hours.
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/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Team Stats
SIU
UNI
FG%
.377
.444
3FG%
.231
.375
FT%
.917
.581
RB
36
28
TO
14
8
STL
4
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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