Win improves Salukis to 17-5 overall and 9-2 in MVC; Dawgs win 5-in-a-row and best 22-game start since 2006-07
BY JIM BEERS
Contributing Writer
SIU hosted Murray State University Tuesday night January 24 at the Banterra Center on the Campus of SIU-Carbondale. It was “AG Night” at SIU along with Studio-21 Night. The first 150 SIU students to arrive at the Dawg Pound also received Official SIU Dawg Pound Basketball Jerseys.
There were 650 FFA students from 32 different schools from across Southern Illinois that attended the game and joined in on the fun and excitement as SIU beat Murray State 68-64. At halftime, approximately 75 performers from Studio-21 in Murphysboro entertained the crowd of 6,507 with their excellent dancing and acrobatic skills.
The Chester High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team was also in attendance accompanied by Head Coach Chris Toledo and Assistant Coach, Nick Severs.
Coming into the game, SIU led the all-time series between the Salukis and the Racers 20-19. The Dawgs beat Murray State 63-57 December 29. That win broke Murray’s 20-game home-court winning streak which was the 7th longest in the country.
SIU led 10-2 early behind the hot hands of Lance Jones and Xavier Johnson. Murray, however, answered with a 12-2 run which showed the large crowd on hand that the night was going to be hard-fought and competitive.
From the opening tip-off, the game was very “spirited” and “emotional” with both teams playing aggressively and at times with anger and “hot tempers”.
The first half turned out to be back-and-forth most of the opening 20-minutes, with numerous lead changes and small runs. The Salukis managed a slim, 34-30 lead at halftime, surrounded with lots of tension, excitement, drama and suspense.
The second half was a continuation of the competitive nature of the first half. Coming out of the halftime break, SIU was strong and scored the first six points of the half to take its biggest lead of the night with a 40-30, 10-point advantage.
The racers then answered with a 10-0 run of their own to tie the game and set the tone for another action-packed second half. The score remained close and back-and-forth throughout the entire second half with the biggest lead of the final 10-minutes being 4-points by both SIU, at the buzzer, and Murray State, 54-50, at the 6:34 mark.
The game was tied three times, 50-50, at 7:58; 56-56, at 4:46; and 60-60, with 3:19 to play. To close the game, Southern outscored MSU, 18-10, with Jones and Domask each scoring 5-points apiece to help the cause.
Late free throws made by Jawaun Newton, Dalton Banks and Marcus Domask kept the Salukis alive in the final 3:19 of the game along with great Saluki defense and a most-supportive Saluki Nation!
At the buzzer, the Dawgs claimed the win, 68-64, to re-claim 1st Place in the Missouri Valley Conference. With the win, SIU secured its best conference start with a 9-2 record since the 2005-06 season, and its best overall start since 2007. The Dawgs are now 10-1 at the Banterra Center in 2022-23, and have won 5-straight games.
The Salukis will play their next game Sunday January 29 at Illinois State with hopes of completing their third sweep of an MVC team this season. SIU beat the Redbirds, 69-57, Saturday December 14 at the Banterra Center.
SIU already has swept Evansville January 17, 77-70, after defeating them earlier in the season, November 30 in overtime, 64-61 at Evansville. With the win over Murray State, the Dawgs completed their second sweep of 2022-23.
In the photos:
SIU’s Marcus Domask (1) shoots over Murray State’s Rob Perry (2) Tuesday night January 24 when the Salukis beat the racers, 68-64, to re-claim 1st Place in the Missouri Valley Conference. In the win Domask scored 17 points and made key free throws down the stretch to help seal the win! Jim Beers Photo
A full Dawg Pound was on hand to cheer on the salukis Tuesday January 24 when the Dawgs battled with the Murray State Racers in an MVC contest. SIU won, 68-64, to re-claim 1st Place in the conference. The first 150 SIU students to arrive in the Dawg Pound received an official Dawg Pound Basketball jersey. Jim Beers Photo
The SIU Banterra Center Jumbotron/Scoreboard says it all. “WE HAVE A WINNER” immediately following the final buzzer of the SIU vs Murray State game Tuesday January 24. The Dawgs won, 68-64, to re-claim the top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference. The win improved SIU to 17-5 overall and 9-2 in the conference. Th win gave the Salukis their best overall start since the 2007 and ties their best start in the MVC with its 9-2 start since 2005-06. SIU is now 10-1 at the Banterra Center at SIU and has now won 5-straight games. Jim Beers Photo
SIU’s Lance Jones (5) sinks a free throw at the 18:28 mark of the second half of the SIU vs Murray State game. Jones’ free throw gave SIU a 36-30 lead. SIU won the game 68-64. Jones scored 19 points to help his team defeat the racers and secure a sweep of Murray State for the regular season. Jim Beers Photo