Salukis set single-season loss record in loss to Drake

By Joe Ragusa

In a season of record lows, the Salukis set another one Wednesday.

SIU (8-21, 5-12 Missouri Valley Conference) fell 78-63 to Drake (16-13, 9-8 MVC) in Des Moines, Iowa. The loss tied SIU’s school record for losses in a three-year span with 55. It was also the school’s seventh-straight loss to Drake and the most losses in a season with 21.

Drake jumped out to an early 16-8 lead with 9:15 after Drake guard Rayvonte Rice hit a free throw with 9:15 left in the first half. Rice finished the game with a double-double, scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds.

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The Salukis drew to within four with 7 minutes and 50 seconds left, when a jumper from junior guard T.J. Lindsay made the score 18-14. But Drake went on a 14-4 run that kept them in front for good.

Senior forward Mamadou Seck played 39 minutes and earned his ninth double-double with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Jeff Early had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Salukis before fouling out with 1 minute and 33 seconds left in the game.

Freshman forward Dantiel Daniels left the game in the first half with a knee bruise.

SIU plays their last game of the regular season at 2:05 p.m Saturday against Northern Iowa at the SIU Arena.

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