Southern Illinois men’s basketball (7-6) made a big turnaround in Tuesday’s game against North Dakota State (7-4) at the Banterra Center, winning by 13 points with a final score of 76-63. Point guard Xavier Johson reached 1,000 career points and led all scorers with 25.
“For the most part, we played 40 minutes of good basketball and the guys played for each other,” head coach Bryan Mullins said. “Defensively it’s one of our better performances, being able to eliminate their threes and be able to rebound the basketball. We got some things to work on but overall a good response to a tough game in Wichita.”
Mullins said hopefully in the future with recent addition Jarrett Hensley and more players coming back, its defense will turn up the intensity and will be a big focus in practice before more games in the Missouri Valley Conference.
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Center Scottie Ebube had the most rebounds in this game with eight. Hensley’s first home game as a Saluki saw him put up an impressive 14 points and four rebounds.
“He can catch and finish. He can make an open three,” Mullins said about Hensley. “Offensively he gives us another weapon that can score the basketball as well.”
Hensley had previously been ruled ineligible to play by the NCAA after transferring for the second time in his career from Cincinnati to SIU. That ruling was negated as a result of a temporary restraining order against the NCAA associated with a pending antitrust lawsuit, which allowed Hensley to finally suit up for the team beginning on Saturday against Wichita State.
Mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement accompanied Hensley in this game, but most of all: relief.
“I think it was two good games to see where I’m at,” Hensley said. “A lot of work to be done to really grow and reach my full potential this year and I’m excited just to keep working with the coaches and my teammates.”
Coming back with more energy after the loss at Wichita State last week, the first three-pointer was made by Johnson at 18:03 in the first half.
Freshman point guard Kennard Davis Jr. hit a two-pointer at 17:32, giving the Dawgs their first lead of the game with 7-5.
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North Dakota State tied the game at 7:31 with a score of 21-21 before Johnson shot a two-pointer at 7:09 to help the Salukis keep momentum, averaging an 11-point lead throughout the remainder of the game.
The first half wrapped up at 42-32 with Clarence Rupert hitting two free throws at the 4:50 mark, a slam dunk from Ebube at 52 seconds, and a layup from Johnson with two seconds on the clock.
The Salukis kept their steady lead through the second half with the first shot from Johnson, a layup from Hensley at the 14:25 mark, and a three-pointer from guard Trent Brown. The Salukis led at 63-53 with 6:51 left in the second half.
“Trent put a lot of work in the last couple of days and he’s put a lot of work in this year and they weren’t easy threes either. They were off the move, they were running actions,” Mullins said. “It was some big-time shots by him.”
The Bison couldn’t keep up this game with the closest score being 60-53 after a layup from a North Dakota State forward with 7:57 on the clock.
Going into Friday’s game against Southern Indiana at home, Mullins wants to see more from his squad over the next three days.
“The last couple of days here were pretty good and we got to have another good 48 hours leading up to Friday night and put together another full 40 minutes of basketball,” Mullins said.
The Dawgs host USI on Friday, Dec. 22, at 6 p.m.
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