Head coach Chris Lowery never imagined he’d have to take back a curtain call.

Four of SIU’s starters were ushered back in the game with less than a minute to play after Quincy University’s late three-point precision gave an exhibition game a conference feel.

The Salukis were able to pull out a 70-64 win that didn’t leave many Salukis smiling after the game.

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Lowery said his team “didn’t compete.”

“We didn’t play hard enough,” Lowery said. “We gave up 64 points. That’s not what we do.”

It was clear the Division II Hawks were overmatched against the defending Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champs. But when the Salukis’ offense turned sloppy and their defensive play was lackluster, Quincy was quick to seize the opportunity.

Three-point shooting kept the Hawks in the game.

Trailing by 13 with about three minutes remaining in the game, Quincy closed the game on a 12-5 run. After Quincy’s Ryan Walker, who played for the Salukis from 2002 to 2004, nailed two 3-pointers, the Salukis had to quickly shift from cruise to rescue mode.

“A lot of the ones they hit were us being lazy or us just being tired or showing or fatigue,” said senior guard Tony Young, who led all scorers with 16 points.

SIU’s starters were sent back in the game with 53 seconds remaining when the Hawks pulled away by five points at 67-62.

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Four team members were playing in their first-ever Division I contest.

“I told those guys they didn’t take the time they got seriously,” Lowery said.

The last-minute environment was indicative of how much of the game was played out – the Hawks didn’t succumb to a Saluki squad that graces many preseason top-25 polls.

The Hawks hung tight in the first half and took advantage of sketchy Saluki play – SIU committed nine turnovers to Quincy’s three – and capitalized to the tune of five 3-pointers.

The first-half stat sheet suggested the Salukis might have been playing a Missouri Valley Conference foe.

The Salukis struggled to establish a low-post presence in the initial 20 minutes, as they scored only eight points in the paint and got three of their shots swatted. They also committed 13 personal fouls.

Sophomore Bryan Mullins said it took a while for the Salukis to get into form.

“We found out a lot about ourselves early,” Mullins said. “But it’s good to get it under our belts and have an actual game and get the rust off.”

Thanks to stellar transition play and sheer talent, the Salukis padded a 33-26 halftime lead.

A see-saw battle ensued until SIU started to gain control midway through the second half on a play that epitomized Saluki basketball.

Wesley Clemmons dove for a loose ball at midcourt. The ball rolled toward the Salukis’ basket, and Clemmons continued to pursue the ball between two Quincy players. After a couple seconds of wrestling for the ball, Clemmons poked it free, and junior Randal Falker scooped it up for a thunderous dunk to put the Salukis ahead 53-40.

“(Falker) sprinted all the way to the other end on a loose ball, and Wesley tipped it to him, and he got a dunk,” Lowery said. “That’s phenomenal.”

SIU plays its second and final exhibition game of the season Sunday against Henderson State University. Tip-off is 30 minutes after the women’s basketball game, which starts at 2:05 p.m.