The SIU men’s basketball squad came off the NCAA-mandated Christmas break looking to break a three-game losing streak on Monday, Dec. 29 in Murray, Kentucky against the Murray State Racers. Despite roaring back from a 20-point deficit to tie the game late, the Salukis’ missed a last-second shot and lost 84-81.

The Salukis and the Racers went back and forth through the early portion of the matchup. Every time Murray State scored points, SIU came down the floor and scored the exact amount needed to tie the game back up. That resulted in the two teams being knotted 9-9 with 15:35 left in the half.

The next four minutes for the Salukis could be summed up by two plays. Forward Max Pikaar thought he had a blocked shot, but ended up getting charged with goaltending, even after an SIU challenge, giving Murray State two points. About 30 game seconds later, guard Jalen Haynes deflected a post pass directly into the Murray State basket. The whole segment of close but no cigar play resulted in the Racers leading 23-17 with 11:28 to go in the first half.

Racer fans had a lot to cheer about in the middle portion of the first half, as the home side went on a 12-0 to make what was once a three point game a 32-17 advantage with 7:59 remaining in the half.

Guard Damien Mayo Jr. finally scored a layup to make it 34-19 after the Salukis went over six minutes without scoring. However, it didn’t quite seem to give SIU the boost they were looking for, as they still trailed by 38-25 at the final media timeout of the half. 

Despite the Racers stretching their lead to 20 at one point down the stretch, the Salukis were able to whittle it down to a 47-34 score heading into halftime thanks in part to a buzzer-beating putback from forward Prince Aligbe, making his first appearance since the Dec. 13 game against Richmond.

Murray State was able to control the first half even with leading rebounder Fred King only playing three minutes due to foul trouble. Aligbe led the Salukis in scoring heading to the locker room with 8 points.

The halftime break sparked something in the Salukis, and they came out of the locker room swinging. The fast pace forced Murray State to play on their heels, and head coach Ryan Miller was forced to call a timeout after a Mayo 3-pointer made the score 59-53 with 12:31 left in the matchup. 

The good fortune continued for SIU as the game crossed into the later stages. A 10-0 run brought the Salukis within one point, and a little over a minute later, guard Drew Steffe made a 3-pointer while getting fouled, along with the ensuing free throw, to tie the game at 64 apiece with 7:45 left in regulation.

SIU continued to play lockdown defense, forcing a nearly four minute field goal drought for the Racers. Unfortunately for the Salukis, they were having some offensive struggles of their own and found themselves down 71-68 coming out of the final media timeout.

Murray State guard JJ Traynor buried a three with 2:14 remaining to make it a four point game, and moments later his teammate Layne Taylor completed an and-1 to make it a 79-72 ballgame and force an uphill battle for the Salukis the rest of the way.

The Dawgs, however, refused to go down without a fight as five straight points from Aligbe made it 81-79 with 39.6 seconds to go, and Salukis head coach Scott Nagy took his second to last timeout to plan for the final stretch.

Murray State forward Javon Jackson knocked down two free throws with 11.8 to go to make it 83-79 after a controversial foul call on Aligbe. A basket from SIU forward Davion Sykes and a split pair of free throws from Murray guard KJ Tenner meant SIU had one more chance down 84-81 with 8.7 on the clock. A final shot from Mayo clanged harmlessly off the front of the rim as time expired, and the Salukis fate was sealed.

Aligbe had arguably his best game as a Saluki in the loss, leading the team with 19 points and 9 rebounds.

“He came back with a fire you would expect, we just have to hope he continues that the rest of the year,” Nagy said postgame.

“I had a level of physicality that raises the energy of the guys,” Aligbe himself added.

Offense was not an issue for the Salukis, as Aligbe was joined in double digits by guard Quel’Ron House (15), Sykes (11), his younger brother Rolyns (11), and Steffe (10).

Despite the Salukis’ 0-3 conference start, Nagy thinks this team is in a better spot than last year’s squad.

“I don’t think I’ve ever started 0-3 other than last year. But last year we were getting our a** kicked and this year we’re not,” he said.

The now 6-8 Salukis return to Banterra Center on Jan. 1 for their annual New Year’s Bash, facing off against the Valparaiso Beacons at 2 p.m.

Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be found at [email protected] or on Instagram @hoovermakesart

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