Southern Illinois News

Salukis Drop Road Game to Drake, 82-59

Southern Illinois men's basketball fell on the road at Drake, 82-59, Saturday afternoon inside the Knapp Center.
 
It was all Drake (21-6, 12-4 MVC) from the start as the Bulldogs scored the first 16 points of the game before SIU was able to get on the scoreboard following a Xavier Johnson free throw six minutes into the action.
 
DU continued to shoot lights out, hitting six of their first seven 3-pointers and 16 of their first 18 shots before ending the half shooting 18-for-30 (60 percent) from the field and 7-for-9 from distance.
 
"Give credit to Drake – they came out from the start and played with a lot of confidence and a lot of intensity," head coach Bryan Mullins said after the game. "We gave up some easy baskets to them early and they got their rhythm."
 
Mullins continued: "We just didn't play well enough in that first half, and we tried to fight back but when you're playing against a team like that – with a lot of veterans, you have to play for 40 minutes."
 
Southern (19-8, 11-5 MVC) struggled from the floor, shooting just 30 percent (6-for-20) in the opening frame with Johnson leading the team with seven points.
 
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 28 points with just over two minutes left before intermission. SIU was able to close the half on a 5-0 run to cut into the 45-22 deficit. The 45 points allowed by SIU in the first half was a season-high (43 at Saint Louis).
 
The Salukis answered out of the locker room with several small bursts to eventually pull within 12 points before running out of gas.
 
Lance Jones and Jawaun Newton had a team-high 13 points for Southern in the loss while Johnson added 10.
 
Roman Penn led Drake with 21 points and eight assists while Tucker DeVries (15) and Darnell Brodie (12) also scored in double-figures.
 
UP NEXT
The Salukis will look to respond Tuesday night with a trip to Valparaiso. Tip with the Beacons is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN Plus. 

Original source can be found here