Men’s basketball

After opening the season with a pair of wins, the SIU men’s basketball team fell on hard times as it has gone 4-5 in its last nine games. The Salukis (7-9, 2-3) opened the Missouri Valley Conference schedule with losses against Bradley, Northern Iowa and Drake before winning back-to-back games against Wichita State and Evansville.

SIU opened its break with a 62-48 defeat against Nevada in which the team struggled to make second-half baskets. The Salukis led 31-30 with 17:18 remaining in the game, but missed their next 15 field goal attempts as the Wolfpack went on a 16-0 run to take command of the game.

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The Salukis have struggled away from SIU Arena so far this season, going 2-3 in true road games. Before Wednesday’s 74-62 win at Wichita State, the team’s only victory away from home was a 73-58 win against Northern Illinois on Dec. 12. Sophomore forward Carlton Fay and senior guard Bryan Mullins led the team with 14 points each as the team shot 59 percent from the field during the in-state rivalry game.

However, the team’s hot shooting in DeKalb did not carry over to its matchup against Saint Mary’s College at the Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. The Salukis’ struggles away from SIU continued as they fell to 0-3 in neutral site games. Freshman guard Ryan Hare led SIU with 14 points, but the Gaels rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to pick up the win at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Salukis regained their shooting touch in their 64-46 win against Western Michigan at SIU Arena. The team shot 48 percent from the field and shot 55 percent from the 3-point line in the second half as Southern picked up the win.

SIU opened MVC play with three straight losses, including home losses to Northern Iowa and Drake. It is the first time since 1987 that the Salukis have opened MVC play with three straight losses.

Freshman guard Kevin Dillard has lived up to the hype that came with being the first Illinois’ Mr. Basketball to attend SIU as he leads the team in scoring (12.2 points per game) and is second in assists (4.1).

Cornelius, Roundtree leave men’s basketball team

The SIU men’s basketball team’s losses were not limited to the basketball court.’ The Salukis lost a pair of reserves after the team’s New Year’s Eve loss to Northern Iowa.

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Redshirt junior forward Christian Cornelius and freshman guard Torres Roundtree both left the team after the loss.

Cornelius, who led the team in field goal percentage before leaving, said he left the team because of health reasons that did not allow him to play at the high level expected of him. Roundtree, who was one of four true freshmen on the team, said he left because he did not feel comfortable in the Salukis’ offensive system.

The departures have opened two scholarships, which will be available for head coach Chris Lowery to use for the 2009 season.

Women’s basketball

Before Sunday’s game against Northern Iowa, the SIU women’s basketball team went 2-4 during the winter break as the team continued its climb towards a .500 record. The Salukis (4-7, 0-2) won their first road game Dec. 16 when they beat Central Arkansas 69-68. Senior forward Jasmine Gibson hit a buzzer-beating jump shot to end the team’s four-game losing streak. SIU has struggled on the road, posting a 1-5 record in games played away from the SIU Arena. However, the team is 3-1 in home games with wins over Saint Louis, Arkansas State and Tennessee Tech.

The Salukis have won back-to-back games twice this season, but have not been able to sustain long winning streaks. After starting the season 2-0, SIU dropped four straight games before picking up consecutive wins against Central Arkansas and Tennessee Tech. The team dropped its next three games, including losses to conference rivals Evansville and Bradley.

Senior guard Erica Smith and senior forward Jasmine Gibson lead the team in scoring with 13.4 and 13.7 points per game, respectively. Sophomore Katrina Swingler, who is averaging 10.9 points per game, joins the senior duo in leading the team.

Luis C. Medina can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 256 or [email protected].