Now up at the Dawg Bites, my recap of today's 75-65 loss to Drake, complete with box score and grades. We also have a preview of tomorrow's women's basketball game at Bradley.
The linkage is right here:
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Made it to Banterra Center today for SIU hoops as they host MVC co-leader Drake at the top of the hour.
Salukis (10-12, 5-6) have won 5 of 6 but the Bulldogs (19-2, 9-2) are their stiffest test in weeks. Can SIU match Drake's physical play and create good shots?

SIU's winning streak is history after Murray State controls the last 10 minutes of a 74-64 win tonight at Banterra Center. The Salukis (8-12, 3-6) will try to bounce back at 2:02 p.m. Saturday in Chicago against UIC.

On birthday No. 59, we've made it to Banterra Center for an MVC matchup between SIU (8-11, 3-5) and Murray State (10-9, 4-4). Salukis aiming for a 4th straight win, while the Racers seek to avoid a 3rd straight loss.

SIU played its best game of the year tonight and blew out UNI 73-49 behind 24 pts, 10 boards from Kennard Davis Jr. Salukis (8-11, 3-5) host Murray State Wednesday night at 6:02.
That team can do some damage in the league for the rest of the year. Now we'll see how often it shows up.

At Banterra Center tonight for coverage of SIU's men's basketball game against MVC foe Northern Iowa. Salukis (7-11, 2-5) have won two straight, albeit against last-place Missouri State, and try their hand against the Panthers (11-7, 5-2).

The updated story from SIU's 88-78 OT win over Missouri State is filed, along with grades and the box score, as well as a capsule preview of the women's game tomorrow at Mo State. Here's the linkage:
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Second half is about to start at the Bank with SIU leading Missouri State 35-27, thanks to 16 points from Jarrett Hensley.

Good evening from Banterra Center at SIU, where the Salukis will try for their first Valley win against Missouri State, which is also 0-5 in the league.
Someone will feel better about things around 8 p.m. This is the first of a home-and-home series between the teams.

SIU played 3 good quarters but the 4th was lacking as Belmont pulled away for a 79-66 win. The quickie gamer is up at this link:
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Good afternoon from the Bank, where in about 25 minutes, the SIU women (2-9, 0-2) will try to upset Belmont (6-7, 1-1). The Salukis have dropped 5 straight and the Bruins are better than their record. Four of their losses are against top 15 teams.

92-69 Murray State is your final at Banterra Center as SIU falls to 2-9 overall and 0-2 in the Valley. The link to my quickie gamer is right here:
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Back at Banterra Center tonight to see if the SIU women can be competitive against Murray State in an MVC clash.
Salukis (2-8, 0-1) need to score some points to keep up with the Racers, who average 90.2 ppg, 6th in Division I. SIU is the lowest-scoring team in the Valley at 58.2 ppg.

Evansville has closed out a 68-53 win over SIU at Banterra Center. Salukis played their worst game of the year, falling to 5-9 and 0-3.
SIU is at Illinois State Sunday at 3:02 p.m.

SIU on track for its worst loss of the year as it trails Evansville 42-31 at the half. Aces are hitting 57 percent and they shoot 41 percent for the year. Salukis have to tighten up on defense and make some shots to avoid an 0-3 start in the Valley.

I have to get ref Antinio Petty and his crew credit for getting the big call right. After a replay review, they correctly tossed Evansville's Michael Day for a cheap shot on Antwuan Massey and Td up Massey when he tried to retaliate and knocked over one of Day's teammates.

Got a pretty decent crowd for New Year's Day. Going to guess we're close to 6,000 just before tipoff.

Happy New Year from Banterra Center, where at 1:02 p.m., SIU and Evansville will try to outdo each other at tossing a round ball through an iron hoop.
Salukis (5-8, 0-2) are coming off 78-67 loss Sunday at UNI, while the Purple Aces (4-9, 1-1) stopped Missouri State 57-40 on Sunday.

Vienna led by 10 twice in the 3rd quarter and by 9 in the 4th but couldn't hold off Mt. Vernon. Rams with a 14-2 run to end the game and win 71-66.
That one lived up to advance billing.

This one is living up to expectations so far as Vienna leads Mt. Vernon 36-34 at recess. Physical game with plenty of fouls. Both teams will have to manage foul trouble down the stretch. It could come down to who loses a star player first.

Spending part of my afternoon in Benton at its girls basketball holiday tournament, watching a semifinal matchup between 12-1 Mount Vernon and 12-0 Vienna. This figures to be some magisterial hoop at this level.

Now up at the Dawg Bites, my updated gamer from the SIU women's basketball loss to UAB today, as well as an Overtime about yesterday's men's basketball defeat to High Point.
The linkage is right here:
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SIU's good first half has morphed into a second half bad enough to have it trailing UAB 69-56 with 3:35 remaining. It went more than 8 minutes without a field goal and is just 6-26 from the floor this half.

SIU played a good first half and leads UAB 37-35 at the break. Gift Uchenna has 12 pts, 9 reb and is on track for another double-double. Salukis have done a good job of denying the Blazers 3s. They are 3-14 from deep after making 15 on Friday night in a win at Illinois State.

If you're in the area and have a bit of disposable income, there's a seat with your name on it in Banterra Center. Plenty of room for you.

Good morning from Banterra Center, where at the top of the hour, the SIU women will do basketball battle with UAB.
Salukis (2-6) must find a way to defuse the Blazers' 3-point attack. UAB (8-3) hit 15 of them Friday night in a win at Illinois State.

Now up at the Dawg Bites, my updated recap of SIU's men's basketball loss to High Point today, as well as a capsule preview of the women's basketball game tomorrow with UAB. The linkage is right here:
www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

This one enters the history books at 3:08 p.m. as a 94-81 High Point win over SIU. Salukis drop to 5-7 and travel to Northern Iowa on Dec. 29 for a 1 p.m. tipoff. The linkage to read my quickie gamer is right here:
www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

High Point still comfortably ahead 77-65 with 5:51 left. SIU needs a spurt before the under-4 TV timeout to have any kind of chance. The Panthers' experience and consistency makes it unlikely but we'll see.

It's 51-37 High Point at the half. The margin was 19 before SIU got within 10 at one stage in the final minute. Salukis have to take care of the ball better than this to have a chance in the second half. Oh, and getting an occasional stop would help as well.