Domask Records first Double-Double of the year as SIU takes down Murray State for fifth win in a row

By Joseph Bernard, Sports Editor|December 29, 2022

Marcus Domask, left, along with Dalton Banks helps up teammate J.D. Muila, middle, after being fouled during the Salukis’ 66-52 win during an exhibition game against Henderson State on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021 at the Banterra Center at SIU.

Wednesday night, the Saluki Men’s Basketball team (10-4, 2-1 MVC) began a long stretch of Missouri Valley games that will make or break their season. The dawgs started their 18-game conference stretch with a road win over the Racers 63-57.

Senior Marcus Domask had a night for the Dawgs, tallying up 20 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, to help lead the Salukis to victory. Senior Lance Jones was actually the leader in points with 21, adding four assists and three rebounds as well, while sophomore Clarence Rupert rounded out the big three with 10 points of his own.

The Dawgs got off to a hot start, scoring the first seven points of the game, but the Racers turned it right back around on SIU, scoring the next nine points to take the lead. A Jones layup and three-pointer by freshman Foster Wonders got the Salukis back into the lead before both teams traded blows to finish the first half. The final five minutes saw eight different lead changes until a clutch steal for a dunk by Rupert earned SIU a three-point lead at 26-23 to finish the first half.

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A Racers three-pointer continued the trend that ended the first half and tied things up once again. However, the Saluki three-headed monster of Domask, Jones, and Rupert combined for six straight points to earn a seven-point lead once more. The Saluki offense hit a lull at the 14-minute mark, leaving space for the Racers to take a momentary lead at 39-38. Luckily, senior Jawaun Newton, junior Dalton Banks, and Domask were all there once more to give the Dawgs another seven-point lead.

The Racers kept things tight until the end, getting it down to just a four-point lead after trailing by as many as ten to the Salukis. A couple of Lance Jones baskets followed by a Domask layup helped make it too little too late for the Racers as the Salukis hung on for the six-point conference victory. The win marks the Saluki’s fifth in a row and ends Murray State’s 20-game win streak on their home court.

The Dawgs will look to extend their win streak to three when they come back home on New Year’s Day to face Belmont for SIU’s Saluki Bash at the Banterra Center. That game will start with a 4 pm tip-off.

Sports editor Joseph Bernard can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Jojobernard2001.

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