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Salukis back on track

By Todd Hefferman, The Southern

Tuesday, December 2, 2008 11:40 PM CST

CARBONDALE - The names on the back of the jerseys were different, but Southern Illinois University's defensive system came back in time to squash its three-game losing streak Tuesday night.

The Saluki men's basketball team was back in front of the ball against Saint Louis, and turned back the clock for a 64-48 win in front of 6,285 fans. Six-foot-eight forwards Carlton Fay and Tony Boyle combined for 24 points and 10 boards, bringing back memories of 2007-08 6-8 pillars Randal Falker and Matt Shaw. The Billikens were held to less than 36 percent from the field and dropped their third straight.

"Our practices gotta be harder than our games. We've rested on defense for three games," SIU coach Chris Lowery said. "I wanted to establish the inside guys and get back to doing some of the old-school stuff, offensively. To control tempo, control the game and really make them guard us for longer periods of time, then guard them, too."

Fay made 2-of-6 from the field, 1-of-2 3-pointers, and dropped all 12 free throws to lead SIU with 17 points. Boyle, the only senior in Tuesday's starting lineup along with point guard Bryan Mullins, scored seven points off two dunks and three free throws in 24 minutes.

"That comes with practice. Just going up strong, and you do what you practice," Boyle said. "We've been working extremely hard, and I just took it on the court. That's what I need to start doing."

The calvary filled in the gaps for SIU (3-3), which won the rebounding battle 30-24 and forced 15 turnovers.

The bench outscored the Billikens (2-4) 30-9, led by Kevin Dillard's nine points and Christian Cornelius' seven. Fay grabbed a team-high six rebounds to help the Salukis become only the second team all season to out-rebound Saint Louis. Boyle added four boards, and Torres Roundtree, Dillard, Cornelius and Wesley Clemmons grabbed three rebounds apiece.

SIU was also able to turn around its woes at the free-throw line. Entering the game, the Salukis had been outshot at the stripe 154-85. Tuesday night, they put the ball on the floor, got to the rim, and entered the bonus before the Billikens in both halves.

SIU made 27-of-31 at the free-throw line to 17-of-23 for Saint Louis. The gap helped the Salukis avoid a meltdown in the second half, when they went the first 5:39 without a field goal but kept the lead.

"They did a good job of getting us into foul trouble, and we did a good job of getting ourselves into foul trouble," Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus said.

By getting back to the basics, Lowery said, the Salukis were able to force the issue for the Billikens' two best players. Senior guards Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell III had 13 and 12, respectively, but shot 7-for-18 for the game.

"Our rotations on all of the ball screens, all of our traps, and all the things we do, defensively, were very, very good tonight," Lowery said. "I really felt we really made Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell work for every basket they got."

And with the tough night, came the deep breath of victory.

"I told 'em this is what it means to be a Saluki. This is how you feel," Lowery said. "You're exhausted after the game, but you're happy because we won."

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087