Last season’s two meetings between the teams were decided by a total of only three points. The Salukis lost at Tulsa 67-65, but then turned the tables in Carbondale, winning 72-71.

The Dawgs did set the record straight in last season’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament as SIUC defeated Tulsa 77-62 behind a strong defensive effort by then junior, and now senior, forward Jaratio Tucker.

This is a different season, though, and the Salukis (11-13, 4-9) must overcome their inability to notch consecutive wins to defeat UT. SIUC has not won back-to-back games since the Hawaii-Hilo Shootout Dec. 28 and 29, and must put together a string of victories to keep their hopes alive for grabbing the eighth-place spot in the MVC to qualify for the tournament.

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Saluki coach Rich Herrin said rebounding will be the key to victory, and his squad must compete on the boards with Tulsa’s big men to have a shot at notching consecutive wins.

Tulsa’s roster contains seven players who are 6-7 or taller, while the Saluki roster contains five.

What Tulsa’s got is bigger people, and bigger athletes than we do, Herrin said. Tulsa will play five or six big guys at any time. We try to put two in, and they’ll put two in. So, we’ve got to try and control the boards. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to beat them on the boards, but we’ve got to get our share of them, that’s for sure.

With three of SIUC’s last five games of the season at home, the Salukis should have the home-court advantage in trying to grab the eighth spot in the MVC, but Herrin said the team has not played well at home this season.

It should be an advantage, but we really haven’t played very well at home. We’ve had success in the past, but we’ve played better on the road this season, he said. It out to be an advantage because in order to get to St. Louis, were going to have to get fired-up to play.