Written by
The Sports Network TSN
Carbondale, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Early made a free throw with two
seconds left to give the Southern Illinois Salukis a 53-52 victory over the
Evansville Racers in a Missouri Valley Conference bout at SIU Arena.
Early finished with a game-high 14 points as SIU (8-16, 5-8 MVC) snapped a
two-game losing streak. Dantiel Daniels added 11 points and five blocks while
Mamadou Seck recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Colt Ryan paced Evansville (11-12, 6-7) with 13 points. Kenny Harris netted 10
points for the Racers in the losing effort.
The Salukis took a 34-23 advantage into the intermission after they shot 50
percent from the field and converted 11-of-14 from the charity stripe in the
opening period.
SIU cooled off after the break and made only 36.4 percent of its field goals
in the second half. The Racers charged back by shooting 45 percent from the
floor and making 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes.
Harris tied the game 52-52 with a pair of free throws with 2:24 remaining
before Early's game winning free throw in the final seconds.
The Salukis never trailed in the contest as they shot 43.2 percent from the
field in the contest.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network