Monday, November 4
Sioux Falls, SD
11 AM
Southern Illinois University
0-1,0-0MVC
80
vs
90
College of Charleston
1-0,0-0CAA
1
2
F
Col. of Charleston
45
45
90
Southern Ill.
42
38
80
Recap | Salukis Fall to College of Charleston, 90-80, at Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase
11/04/2024 | 3:20:00 | Men's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Southern Illinois basketball dropped its season opener to College of Charleston, 90-80, Monday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon at the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Transfer guard Elijah Elliott led the Salukis with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting to go with three steals and two assists. Newcomer Ali Dibba scored 14 while Kennard Davis Jr. put in 12.
The Salukis trailed 45-42 at the break and took a three-point lead four minutes into the second half during a 6-1 run. Charleston would go back in front and not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.
SIU played without one of its top players in forward Jarrett Hensley for most of the first half with early foul trouble with the big man playing just over three minutes.
Trailing 42-31 with 3:40 remaining in the first half the Salukis used a 10-3 run to pull back within three points. Southern made 4-of-5 from the floor during the two minute stretch led by Elijah Elliott's four points as he entered double-digit scoring for the first half. Antwaun Massey capped off the run with a stop and score after he tipped a pass and went coast-to-coast to make it a 42-39 game.
With six seconds left in the opening half Kennard Davis Jr. was fouled behind the arc and connected on all three of his free throws to cut the Charleston lead to just one point. The Cougars would score on an out of bounds play with 0.4 seconds left on the clock to take a 45-42 lead to the locker room.
The Salukis struggled in the second half, shooting 35.7 percent (10-28) in the final 20 minutes of play. Charleston outrebounded the Salukis 38-27 in the game while pulling down just seven rebounds in the second half. CoC put together a 12-6 advantage on second-chance points in the game.
Southern forced 17 Cougar turnovers, scoring 15 points off the miscues. As a team, SIU shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-21) from deep and 75.8 percent (25-33) from the charity stripe.
Forward Davion Sykes recorded eight points and seven rebounds in just under 20 minutes of play. Massey finished with eight points and four rebounds while Hensley put in seven points while battling foul problems.
Preseason CAA Player of the Year Ante Brzovic scored a game-high 27 points in the Cougar win. Deywilk Taveraz and CJ Fulton put in 17 each for Charleston.
UP NEXT
The Salukis open the home slate of their schedule on Friday, November 8 when Missouri S&T comes to town for a 7 p.m. start. Saluki Athletics will tip-off a season-long celebration of the arena's 60th birthday with the Nov. 8 game, billed as the "Banterra Center 60th Birthday Bash." Fans can purchase $6 seats using the promo code "BIRTHDAY".
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by visiting SIUSalukis.com as well as following the team on X at @SIU_Basketball, Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and Facebook at Facebook.com/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Transfer guard Elijah Elliott led the Salukis with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting to go with three steals and two assists. Newcomer Ali Dibba scored 14 while Kennard Davis Jr. put in 12.
The Salukis trailed 45-42 at the break and took a three-point lead four minutes into the second half during a 6-1 run. Charleston would go back in front and not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.
SIU played without one of its top players in forward Jarrett Hensley for most of the first half with early foul trouble with the big man playing just over three minutes.
Trailing 42-31 with 3:40 remaining in the first half the Salukis used a 10-3 run to pull back within three points. Southern made 4-of-5 from the floor during the two minute stretch led by Elijah Elliott's four points as he entered double-digit scoring for the first half. Antwaun Massey capped off the run with a stop and score after he tipped a pass and went coast-to-coast to make it a 42-39 game.
With six seconds left in the opening half Kennard Davis Jr. was fouled behind the arc and connected on all three of his free throws to cut the Charleston lead to just one point. The Cougars would score on an out of bounds play with 0.4 seconds left on the clock to take a 45-42 lead to the locker room.
The Salukis struggled in the second half, shooting 35.7 percent (10-28) in the final 20 minutes of play. Charleston outrebounded the Salukis 38-27 in the game while pulling down just seven rebounds in the second half. CoC put together a 12-6 advantage on second-chance points in the game.
Southern forced 17 Cougar turnovers, scoring 15 points off the miscues. As a team, SIU shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-21) from deep and 75.8 percent (25-33) from the charity stripe.
Forward Davion Sykes recorded eight points and seven rebounds in just under 20 minutes of play. Massey finished with eight points and four rebounds while Hensley put in seven points while battling foul problems.
Preseason CAA Player of the Year Ante Brzovic scored a game-high 27 points in the Cougar win. Deywilk Taveraz and CJ Fulton put in 17 each for Charleston.
UP NEXT
The Salukis open the home slate of their schedule on Friday, November 8 when Missouri S&T comes to town for a 7 p.m. start. Saluki Athletics will tip-off a season-long celebration of the arena's 60th birthday with the Nov. 8 game, billed as the "Banterra Center 60th Birthday Bash." Fans can purchase $6 seats using the promo code "BIRTHDAY".
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by visiting SIUSalukis.com as well as following the team on X at @SIU_Basketball, Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and Facebook at Facebook.com/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Team Stats
CC
SIU
FG%
.564
.403
3FG%
.450
.238
FT%
.633
.758
RB
38
27
TO
17
9
STL
3
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball9.9.25 | Coach Nick Hill Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 09
Inside Saluki Athletics - September 9th
Tuesday, September 09
9.7.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame Purdue- Vinson Davis and Andrew Behm
Sunday, September 07
9.7.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame Purdue - Nick Hill
Sunday, September 07