Coach Mullins asks for focus on defense; Dawgs hold Tigers to 44 points
BY JIM BEERS
Contributing Writer
CARBONDALE — The Southern Illinois Salukis played a great defensive game against Tennessee State Thursday night November 17 at the Banterra Center on the campus of SIU-C. Coach Mullins asked for a good defensive effort and the Salukis came through for a 57-44 win.
March Domask sinks one of his seven free throws in the first half against Tennessee State. Domask led his team in scoring and rebounding in the win. Jim Beers Photo
Mullins said, “I really challenged the guys before the game to lock in and focus on the defensive end and not let our offense dictate our defense. They have so many explosive and shifty guards that can get downhill. I think this is one of our best defensive games this year. The guys really took the challenge on defense and never let up.”
On the other side of the picture, however, the Dawgs seemed to have focused so much on defense that they might have let up on offense somewhat. Tennessee State came into the game undefeated at 3-0 and apparently had the potential to shoot the lights out when not held in check.
The piccolo section of the SIU Pep Band dance in celebration of a great Saluki run against Tennessee State Thursday November 18. The Dawgs won, 57-44 to improve to 3-1 for the season. Jim Beers Photo
The Salukis worked very hard all night to hold the Tigers in check, but that effort seemed to create a lessened effect on their offensive effort with a low scoring game of only 57 points.
SIU’s mascots Grey Dawg and Brown Dawg help the Dawg Pound celebrate a win in the final minutes of the SIU vs Tennessee State game Thursday November 18. The Salukis pulled of the 57-44 win using fantastic defense throughout the night. Jim Beers Photo
For the night SIU was just 3-of-21 from the 3-point arc (14.2%). SIU’s firepower often springs from its’ 3-point attack and in the game, Marcus Domask was just 1-for-3, Lance Jones was just 1-for-7, and Jawaun Newton was just 1-for-4. This is quite uncharacteristic for the Salukis.
In the win, senior Marcus Domask achieved his third career double-double with 18-points, and 10 rebounds. He also added 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal for the night. He was the only Saluki in double scoring figures in the game. Other major offensive contributors included Lance Jones (3), Jawaun Newton (9), and Dalton Banks (9).
Trent Brown (#24) goes up for a tough layup against Tennessee State’s Marcus Fitzgerald (#1) in the first half of the Salukis vs Tigers contest Thursday November 18. The basket was good for 2-of-Brown’s 5 points of the night. In addition, he grabbed a rebound and had 1 steal. The Dawgs won, 57-44. Jim Beers Photo
Newcomer Cade Hornecker, the 7-0, 240 pound freshman from Amarillo, Texas, saw his first playing time of the 4-game season. He scored 4 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in his 6:42 minutes. The young Hornecker gave the Salukis a great boost when he entered the game late in the first half.
Coach Mullins said, “Cade had a great two weeks of practice and does a great job of communicating. They run a ton of ball screens and he was able to help us organize our defense that way. He’s gotten better-and-better and with JD Muila and Scottie Ebube out, we feel like Cade can step in and help us there.”
Saluki standout Lance Jones ((5) reacts in dismay after being called for a foul in the second half of the SIU vs Tennessee State game Thursday November 18. Marcus Domask (1) reacts in disbelief as the call is being announced. The Salukis beat the Tigers 57-44 in a hard-fought defensive battle. In the win Jones scored 9 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and had 1 steal. Jim Beers Photo
Hornecker came into the game at a crucial time after Tennessee State had just completed a 12-0 run on the Salukis to get within one point, 25-24. Hornecker ended that run when he scored his first career college points in a Saluki uniform. His 7-foot basket energized the Salukis and they went on a 7-0 run of their own. At the half the Saluki led to 36-27.
Four other Saluki players scored 2-points apiece including Troy D’Amico, Xavier Johnson, Trent Brown, and Clarence Rupert.
On the defensive side of the statistical charts SIU held the Tigers to just 44 points. They held them to 4-of-19 from behind the 3-point arc (21%), 15-of-53 overall from the field (28.3%) and the Tigers made 10-of-20 free throws (50%).
The SIU Dawg Pound explodes in celebration Thursday November 18 after the first basket is made by the Salukis. The Dawgs won, 57-44 over the Tennessee State Tigers at the SIU Banterra Center to improve to 3-1 for the season. Jim Beers Photo
SIU led by as much as 17 at the 4:25 mark of the second half. Their best scoring run was 8-points at the 2:21 mark of the first half. Tennessee State never had a lead in the game, but they did have a 12-point scoring run at the 4:39 mark of the first half. SIU led the game for 39:43 of the 40-minute contest.
SIU guard, Marcus Domask (#1) a senior, shoots a free throw against Tennessee State Thursday November 17. The Dawgs managed a 57-44 win over the Tigers to improve to 3-1 on the season. In the win Domask achieved his third double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. In addition, he 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. He was 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Jim Beers Photo
On the negative side of the stats the Salukis turned the ball over 21 times vs the Tigers’ 4. SIU scored 28 points in the paint vs Tennessee State’s 20. The Dawgs had no second chance points. The Tigers had 8. SIU had 5 fast break points while Tennessee had just 2. Another testimony to SIU depth, the Salukis had 24 bench points. Tennessee State had 22 points from its bench. SIU outrebounded the Tigers 41-35.
With the win the Salukis of the Missouri Valley Conference improve to 3-1 while the Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conference earned their first loss of the season and have a record of 3-1.
The Salukis play UNLV Monday November 21 at the SoCal Challenge at San Juan Caplstrano, California. Wednesday November 23 on Thanksgiving Eve they will play either Minnesota or California Baptist to finish the SoCal Challenge.