Feb. 21, 2006

By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Southern Illinois University men's basketball team unravelled at Evansville Tuesday night, losing a stunner to the last-place Purple Aces, 64-59.

The Salukis (18-10, 12-6) played lethargically in the first half and passively most of the second. Someone forgot to pack the confidence and swagger that usually accompanies SIU basketball on a road trip.

Evansville (8-18, 4-13) played like it was having fun -- free and easy, with nothing to lose.

They led 26-22 after a sloppy first half by both teams, then seized momentum early in the second half, building a lead as big as 12 points.

The Salukis seemed unsure of themselves, afraid to make a mistake in a game that had big post-season implications.

"Right now we deal with adversity in a very poor way," Saluki head coach Chris Lowery said. "We deal with adversity by putting our head down and turning on each other."

If Southern has had an Achilles' heel lately, it's been an inability to defend post players. Opposing big men have had a field day, while the Salukis can't keep from fouling.

That was the case against the Purple Aces, whose two big men -- Matt Webster and Bradley Strickland -- combined for 45 points.

"Their bigs just dominated us," Lowery said.

Reserve forwards Tony Boyle and Jamaal Foster were so ineffective, that when starter Matt Shaw fouled out with five minutes left in the game, Lowery played a four-guard lineup.

Saluki forward Randal Falker, one of the top post players in league the last few weeks, reverted to earlier times, making just 2-of-8 free throws and spending much of the game on the bench with foul trouble.

"We have to get back to basics," Lowery said. "We defend, and we play hard."

Trailing 54-45 with 4:54 left in the game, the Salukis put together an 11-3 run, closing the gap to 57-56 on a Wesley Clemmons' 3-pointer with 1:39 to go.

But Webster proved more determined to win than the Salukis. On Evansville's next possession, he backed Falker down into the paint, scored and was fouled with 1:13 left. Webster made the free throw to give the Purple Aces a four-point lead as the home team never looked back.

"It's about being tough and having heart," Lowery said. "We've won too many championships here, and we've got guys in the lockerroom who are acting like they've never won a championship."

Southern now trails league-leading Wichita State by 1 1/2 games and finishes the regular season with a home game against Northern Iowa.