Trailing 18-11 with 12:30 left in the first half, the Saluki men’s basketball team shut down Indiana State University’s offensive attack and went on a 16-0 run to take a 27-18 lead. SIUC then continued the effort and dominated on the backboards for an 82-58 win at SIU Arena.

SIUC forced 18 Indiana State turnovers and took control in the first half with a 32-12 rebounding advantage. The Salukis grabbed 18 offensive rebounds while shutting out the Sycamores on their offensive end in the first 20 minutes.

It was a nice victory, Saluki coach Rich Herrin said. They are a good basketball team. We just took it to them and played with great confidence. But the big thing is we defended. That’s what you have to do you have to get out and play defense.

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SIUC shot just 38 percent from the field but attempted 25 more shots than the Sycamores in improving to 9-9 overall and 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Indiana State fell to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in conference play.

Saluki junior forward Monte Jenkins, who led SIUC in scoring with a game-high 19 points, said the Salukis’ 51-38 advantage on the boards was a result of a concentrated team effort.

You have to keep going after it, Jenkins said. You can’t just give up after one shot. The first one might not go in, but if you keep going to the boards, eventually you’re going to get it.

Both teams came out of the gates ready offensively, and Sycamore senior guard Steve Hart scored eight of Indiana State’s first ten to lead the Sycamores to an 18-11 lead.

SIUC responded with a run of their own, led by five points from senior guard Shane Hawkins and Jenkins and four from senior forward Rashad Tucker, to take a nine-point lead and control of the game. Indiana State hung close until the final two minutes of the half, as Jenkins hit a key three-pointer and sophomore forward Chris Thunell scored seven to give the Salukis a 43-28 lead.

We can’t let them just catch the ball and shoot it, Jenkins said. When we stop it, it creates turnovers and a chance to take charge.

Sycamore coach Royce Waltman said his team could not cope with the Salukis’ increased pressure.

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When we got down, we didn’t defend very well, Waltman said. Early on, we just never got in the game on the boards.

In the second half, the Salukis picked up right where they left off. SIUC opened a 20-point lead with eight minutes left and held off one final Indiana State run to roll to the 24-point win.

SIUC entered the game as the nation’s No. 2 team in rebounding margin with a mark of 11.9 per game. The University of Utah leads with 15.3, while the University of Kentucky (10.8), Stanford University (10.8) and the University of Iowa (10.5) round out the top five.

The Salukis added to their mark with a 13-board advantage Saturday night, led by junior center James Watts’ 10 rebounds. Herrin said the emphasis on rebounding includes a conscious effort from his six frontcourt players.

We didn’t have a good night shooting the basketball as a team, and yet we were able to win, Herrin said. We’re No. 2 in the nation in rebounding, and somebody said Kentucky is No. 3. That makes you feel pretty good.

We don’t have a great individual rebounder, we’ve just got many guys. Watts led us again, and that’s probably the fifth or sixth different guy.

Watts added seven points in replacing junior center James Jackson in the starting lineup.

Rebounds are the key, Watts said. The team that controls the boards controls the game. It’s a privilege to get in the starting lineup. I just come in and do what I have to do.

SIUC brings Illinois State University to SIU Arena Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. for the second of a three-game homestand.

The game can be heard on WXLT 95.1 FM or at http://www.siu.edu/~athletic.