Dawgs dominate Billikens 101-62, and win battle against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in nail-biter, 70-68
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – The Southern Illinois University Saluki Men’s Basketball Team has won 6-of-8 games this season and two of those six wins were back-to-back victories against formidable foes, St. Louis University and Oklahoma State University of the Big -12 Conference.
SIU’s Clarence Rupert (4) slams one home as St. Louis University’s Bruce Zhang (12) ends his fruitless attempt to defend the 6’8″, 239 lb. Rupert. SIU dominated the Billikens in a 101-62 victory Saturday December 2 at the Banterra Center at SIU to improve to 5-2 overall in the early season. Jim Beers Photo
The Salukis dominated the St. Louis University Billikens last Saturday December 2 in a rare 2:30 p.m. game that turned out to be a 101-62 blowout of a team that was powerful last season and beat SIU-C, 85-72 at St. Louis U December 3, 2022.
Last season the Salukis traveled to Oklahoma State on November 10, 2022 and brought home a great 61-60 win against the Big 12 Cowboys.
SIU’s Xavier Johnson drives to the basket in the 70-68 win over Oklahoma State Tuesday December 5. In the win Johnson scored 32 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, and had 2 steals. In Saturday December 2nd’s blowout of Saint Louis University Johnson scored 31 points, dished out 7 assists, had 5 steals and grabbed 3 rebounds. As of the first 8 games in the 2023-24 season, Xavier Johnson is the nation’s top scorer averaging 24.2 points per game. He also leads the nation with three 30-plus scoring games. Finally, Johnson has the record for most points scored in a game with 38 points in the win over Jammes Madison. Jim Beers Photo
Both games made the SIU Banterra Center, formerly known as the SIU Arena on the campus of SIU Carbondale, come alive. The Saluki fans came out in full force at both back-to-back wins to show that the Dawgs are hard to beat on their home court this year!
Southern Illinois University 101-Saint Louis University 62
The Salukis made no bones about it, the Dawgs came to play Saturday December 2 when the Billikens took the court at the Banterra Center at SIU Carbondale. The Dawgs dominated the entire game and proved that they are a name to be reckoned with in 2023-24.
The only time the Billikens got to be in the lead in the game was at the 8-minute mark when Billiken Tim Dangler hit a free throw to give St. Louis a very brief, 3-2 lead.
Troy D’Amico, SIU’s 6’7″, 212 lb. junior attempts a 3-pointer in the 70-68 win over Oklahoma State University of the Big–12 Conference. Jim Beers Photo
SIU’s Xavier Johnson answered with a 3-pointer to re-gain the lead, 5-3. That was the beginning of a huge 18-7 run that had the Salukis in a comfortable, 23-10 lead. During that spree, the Dawgs forced six Billiken turnovers that turned into eight points.
Throughout the game the Salukis would make 18 three-pointers which was just three short of tying the school record for 3-pointers made. Xavier Johnson, a 6’1”, 189 lb. graduate student scored 31 points in the win. That accomplishment was his second 30-point game in the early SIU season.
In the win, SIU boasted five players who scored in double figures including Xavier Johnson (31), Troy D’Amico (20), Clarence Rupert (14), Jovan Stulic (14), and Kennard Davis Jr. (11). Other contributors included Trent Brown (9), and Scottie Ebube (2).
The victorious Saluki Basketball Team joins jubilant fans on the court following the huge 70-68 win over Power-5 Oklahoma State University of the Big-12 Conference. The win improved SIU to 6-2 on the early season. Jim Beers Photo
From the field the Dawgs were 37-of-56 (66.1%). From three point land SIU was 18-of-29 (62.1%). The Salukis made 9-of-14 free throws (64.3%). D’Amico led the team in blocks with three followed by Clarence Rupert (2) and Trent Brown (1) for a total of six. SIU led the battle for most steals with 16 vs just seven for SLU.
The Salukis recorded a total of 25 assists led by the very unselfish Xavier Johnson who dished out seven. Trent Brown dished out six followed by Troy D’Amico, Clarence Rupert and Jovan Stulic who each recorded three apiece. Thus, once again, the Dawgs are a most unselfish team.
SIU hit only six of its 18 three-pointers in the first half. Xavier Johnson had four of those. SIU led by 15 points at halftime. The Salukis ended the first half with a nice 10-4 run to lead, 42-27. Xavier Johnson scored 16 of the 42 points while Clarence was 5-for-5 from the field adding 10-points in the opening 20-minute half. He added one free throw making his total, 11 points.
In the second half SIU didn’t let up! They outscored the Billikens, 59-33 in the closing 20 minutes. Most of that was orchestrated by a barrage of 3-pointers that rained down on the Billikens throughout the second half. SIU made 12-of-17 treys during that run.
In the game, Xavier Johnson drained six three-pointers, Troy D’Amico, Kennard Davis, Jr., Trent Brown, and Jovan Stulic each added three treys to give the Salukis a total of 18 three-pointers in the win.
At one point in the second half, the Salukis made numerous threes in a row to a point that the fans were going crazy with disbelief. D’Amico hit three treys in a row back-to-back-to back.
The 101 points scored by the Salukis were the first 100-point accomplishment since December 6, 2020 against Quincy College. It was further the first time since 1988 that SIU scored 100 or more points against a Division I team and that was over Missouri State.
SIU Head Coach, Bryan Mullins said, “I thought the last couple of days practice were really good. I thought the guys had a great attitude and a great mindset going into the game. Obviously it is a great opportunity to play Saint Louis at home.”
“I think it was our most connected game in terms of both sides of the ball and just playing team basketball. I’m really happy for our guys and looking forward to our next challenge here.”
With the win, the Salukis improved to 5-2 overall and host Oklahoma State Tuesday December 5 at 8:00 p.m. at Banterra Center.
SIU 70- Oklahoma State 68
On Tuesday December 5 the Salukis hosted Power 5 opponent Oklahoma State University of the Big-12 Conference. The game aired at 8:00 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network to a national audience.
It was the first time SIU has hosted a Power 5 opponent since the 2007-2008 season when Oklahoma State came to the SIU Arena to play the Salukis in the NIT. That same the year Indiana Hoosiers came to SIU for a regular season match up. That year, the Hoosiers beat SIU 64-51. On December 1, 2001 the Salukis beat Indiana 72-60.
The atmosphere at the Banterra Center on the campus of SIU was electric Tuesday night when the Cowboys came to town. The SIU Pep Band was on fire, the Dawg Pound student section was full and in full support of the Salukis, members of the Saluki Swim Team were in the stands showing their support, and numerous SIU Football Players were on hand and very vocal in support of the Men’s Basketball Team.
A crowd of 5,610 came to the game and were extremely rowdy throughout the game in support of the team. The new end-zone media boards were in full working order as was the brand new, state-of-the-art, scoreboard that is located hanging above center court in the Banterra Center. The atmosphere was reminiscent of the “good ole days” at SIU when the Arena was filled most games!
The game was competitive and extremely rough throughout the entire 40-minute competition. It was quite apparent that the Power 5 Cowboys came to SIU confident and thinking that they had an advantage over the Salukis.
Oklahoma State was bigger at some positions and played quick, rough, and very aggressively until the final buzzer. At halftime the score was tied, 34-34. Throughout the first half, the score changed several times. The Salukis were 9-for-23 from the field (39.13%), 4-of-7 from three point range (57.14%), and 12-of-13 from the free throw line (92.31%).
After halftime OSU jumped out to a brief 40-36 lead before SIU responded with a significant 19-5 run. Five Salukis were responsible for that run to give the Dawgs back a 10-point, 55-45 lead.
Another key contributor in the second half was 6’8”, 239 lb. junior, Clarence Rupert. He had one of his best games this season scoring 11-of-his 13 points.
In the final minutes of the game Rupert was able to make a huge rebound and stick it back for two points. He was fouled and made his free throw to complete the three-point play to give SIU a 69-66 lead. There were just 28-seconds left to play at that time.
The final seconds of the game were extremely nerve-racking with the officials going to the monitor to take away a goal-tending call against OSU. The Salukis did not falter under extreme duress down the stretch and held their composure. Scottie Ebube and Troy D’Amico made key blocks during that time also.
A questionable technical foul called on Troy D’Amico allowed the Cowboys to shoot a pair of free throws. The Saluki defense remained in control and kept OSU’s Quion Williams from scoring when he got a shot off with 3-seconds on the clock. SIU’s Kennard Davis Jr. grabbed the Williams’ rebound to end the game with SIU ahead, 70-68.
Coach Bryan Mullins said, I’m happy we were able to protect our home court. It was a great college basketball game. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t always pretty, but I thought our guys really competed and made enough winning plays at the end to get the result that we wanted.”
In the win, SIU’s Xavier Johnson scored game-high 32 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out five assists. He led all scorers. Johnson had 19 points in the first half and added another 13 points in the second half.
As of the first 8 games played this season, Xavier Johnson now “leads the nation” in scoring with 24.2 points per game. He also “leads the nation” with three 30-plus games. Finally, Johnson “leads the nation” for scoring the most points in a game with 38 points against James Madison.
The Salukis will host Austin Peay Tuesday December 12 at the Banterra Center with the tip-off at 7:00p.m.