Salukis survive UIC Surge for 10th Consecutive Home Win

By Joei Younker, Sports Reporter|February 9, 2023

Xavier Johnson (10) jumps to pass the ball around Toby Okani (5) and Filip Skobalj (50) of University of Illinois Chicago Feb. 8, 2023 at Banterra Center in Carbondale, Ill.

The Salukis hosted the UIC Flames in the Banterra center Feb. 8 for a point-to-point, conference match and earned their tenth consecutive win at home.

Southern was once again led by the Lance and Marcus Duo. Marcus Domask finished the game with 24 points, followed by Lance Jones’ 12 points. Scottie Ebube followed with eight points and JD Mula was close behind with six points.

Guard Xavier Johnson finished the game with a team high of nine rebounds.

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The Flames beat the Salukis in points off turnovers, 18-9 after forcing 21 turnovers, second chance, and fast break points. But the Southern’s bench came out on fire earning them 22 points throughout the game.

The Dawgs started the first half off with an eight-point lead that was knocked off by two points in the pain by the Flames. Southern maintained their lead throughout the first half to go into intermission 35-27.

The Salukis got their highest lead of the game, 15, midway through the second half thanks to two made free throws by Trent Brown and a made shot from behind the arch by Troy D’amico.

The Dawgs ended the game with a defensive stop with less than five seconds left in the fourth quarter to secure their hard-fought 68-66 win against the Flames.

The Salukis will be traveling to Des Moines, IA, to take on the Drake Bulldogs for another Dawg eat Dawg game. The game can be viewed on ESPNU Feb. 11 at 1 PM.

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Sports Reporter Joei Younker can be reached at [email protected].

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