First win over a Top-25 team at home in 11 years when SIU defeated Wichita State
By Jim Beers
CARBONDALE, Ill. – SIU improved to 17-10 overall and 9-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference Saturday night February 17 in front of a very supportive Saluki crowd of 6,019, as the Salukis beat no. 23 ranked Indiana State (22-5) (13-3), 74-69.
The Salukis struggled a bit in the first half against the Sycamores trailing as much as 13 points. Throughout the first 20 minutes SIU worked hard to get within three points on one occasion, but typically trailed by 5, 6, or 7 points on most occasions.
The Dawgs began a 9-2 run with 5:46 to play in the first half, to get within 11 points, 25-14. During that run, Xavier Johnson scored six points and A.J. Ferguson scored three points to get the Salukis within six points, 27-21, with 3:54 to play in the half.
The final 2:51 Troy D’Amico would score six points, Xavier Johnson would score two points on free throws, and with just one-second left, Jarrett Hensley would get a tip-in for two points to end the first half down by six points, 37-31.
The first half the Salukis were 12-of-30 overall from field goal range (40%) and just 2-of-14 from 3-point range (14.29%). From the free throw line the Dawgs were 5-of-6 (83.33%).
In the second half, the Salukis picked up the pace and outscored the Sycamores, 43-32, (11 points).
The first 1:30 of the second period SIU was scoreless. ISU popped a 3-pointer at 19:06 by Ryan Conwell. Xavier Johnson broke the ice for the Dawgs with a jumper at 18:30, and followed with a 3-pointer at 18:09. SIU trailed, 42-36.
The next five minutes SIU went on a 10-1. SIU’s Kennard Davis drained a bucket at 16:23 and drained a 3-pointer at 15:32 to get the Salukis within two points, 43-41. Just 21-seconds later, Clarence Rupert sank a free throw to narrow the Sycamore lead to one point, 43-42.
At the 14:26 mark, A.J. Ferguson connected for a 2-pointer to give SIU its’ first lead of the game, 44-43. Ferguson extended that lead to 46-43 with a huge dunk at 13:19 to bring the house down.
The Sycamores answered with an 8-2 run as ISU’s “big man” Robbie Avila hit a pair of free throws and hit the paint hard for three short jumpers in the paint. During that run, SIU’s Scottie Ebube hit a short jumper in the paint. The Sycamores re-took the lead, 51-48 at the 10:37 mark.
ISU would keep that small lead for the next 2:30 until SIU’s Kennard Davis re-took the lead for SIU, 56-55 at the 7:37 mark.
The remainder of the game, there would be two ties, 57-57 and 58-58, after which there would be three lead changes until the Sycamores would take their final lead of the game, 69-68, with 1:15 to play in the game. The Salukis closed out the game with a 6-0 run to win the contest, 74-69.
In the win, SIU had three players score in double figures including Xavier Johnson (21), Troy D’Amico (15), and Kennard Davis, Jr. (12). Johnson also grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and recorded 1 steal. D’Amico had 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block, 1 steal and he was 4-4 from the free throw line. Davis grabbed 5 boards, dished 2 assists, and 3 steals.
Other contributors included A.J. Ferguson (9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block), Clarence Rupert (6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block), Scottie Ebube (6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block), Trent Brown (3 points, 1 block, 1 steal), and Jarrett Hensley (2 points, 1 assist, 2 blocks).
SIU recorded 29 rebounds, 13 assists, 7 turnovers, 6 blocks, 10 steals and 74 points. They made 28-of-61 field goals (45.9%); 6-of-27 3-pointers (22.2%); and 12-of-14 free throws (85.7%).
The Salukis had 6 second-chance points; 14 points off of turnovers; 20 points from the bench; 34 points in the paint; and 17 fast break points. There were 11 lead changes in the game.
Indiana State had just two players score double figures, Robbie Avila (30) and Ryan Conwell (16). Other contributors included Julian Larry (7), Isaiah Swope (6), Xavier Bledson (5), and Jake Wolfe (5).
The Sycamores shot 44.2% from field goal range (23-52); 28% from 3-point range (7-25); and 16-18 free throws (88.9%). They had 7 second chance points; 2 points off of turnovers; 5 bench points; 32 points in the paint; and 7 fast break points. ISU recorded 34 rebounds, 14 assists, 16 turnovers, 2 blocks, and 3 steals.
SIU Had Coach Bryan Mullins said, “It was an amazing atmosphere, we couldn’t have done it without the community, the fans, and the Dawg Pound. It is an amazing place out there and our guys had an incredible spirit about themselves tonight.”
“What we do works. It works at the highest level, and when we play like that, we can beat anyone. The second half defense was phenomenal! To hold that team to 38 percent to go along with some of the big plays we had at the end…that’s winning basketball, that’s championship basketball, that’s a Sunday at Arch Madness type game!”
The Salukis have just four more games in the regular season, two home and two away. The Dawgs host Murray State this Wednesday February 21 at 7 p.m. They travel to Evansville Sunday February 25 at 1:00 p.m., and to Bradley Wednesday February 28 at 7:00 p.m. They return home to close out the season Sunday afternoon March 3 to host the University of Northern Iowa at 1:00 p.m.
The 2024 State Farm Missouri Valley Tournament, better known as “Arch Madness”, takes place Thursday March 7 through Sunday March 10 at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
SIU’s Xavier Johnson (10) fires a 3-pointer at the 18:09 mark of the second half Saturday February 17 when SIU hosted # 23 ranked Indiana State University. The Salukis beat the Sycamores, 74-69, in front of 6,019 fans. In the win, Johnson lewd the Salukis with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal. Jim Beers Photo
troy D’Amico (0) drains a 3-pointer at the 4:26 mark of the second half against the Indiana State Sycamores. His basket extended SIU’s lead to 63-59 and gave the Dawgs momentum to finish the game strong. In the win, D’Amico was SIU’s second highest scorer with 15 points. He also added 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal and he was 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Jim Beers Photo
SIU fans storm the floor Saturday February 17 when the Salukis beat the No. 23 ranked Indiana State Sycamores, 74-69. Jim Beers Photo
Chester’s Jason Stumpe made it on the huge Jumbo-Tron at the SIU Banterra Center Saturday February 17 when the Salukis defeated the No.23 ranked Indiana State Sycamores, 74-69. Stumpe, the son of Scott Stumpe and Jennifer Cartwright, was apparently demonstrating his skills manipulating the rubix cube when the camera man just happened to catch him solve the problem and show it off to the world. His accomplishment was a big hit for fans watching him on the huge video board hanging high above the floor. Jim Beers Photo