CARBONDALE - Quick shots and bad shots turned into the same thing for Southern Illinois University's men's basketball team at Western Kentucky last week.

The Salukis' 40.7 field-goal percentage in the second half was the worst of the season, and helped spell a three-game losing streak for SIU entering tonight's home game with Saint Louis. The Salukis (2-3) and Billikens (2-3) tip off at 7:05 in what SIU coach Chris Lowery hopes is a battle of ball-control teams.

"We're not making excuses. This is what the early season is about. Finding who you are, and, with a young team, blending in and making sure they understand what it takes to win," Lowery said. "We did things at home that we didn't do on those three games on the road, which was be patient; make the right decisions, so, home is very important. This building is very special to our kids."

The game will end a three-game road swing for the Billikens, who have dropped three of their last four games. Saint Louis fell at Nebraska 71-57 and at Detroit 62-57 last week. The game will be a sort of homecoming for three Billikens, as Vienna High School grad Brett Thompson, Pinckneyville grad Kyle Cassity and McCluer North (Mo.) grad Femi John return to Southern Illinois.

John, a high school teammate of current Salukis Torres Roundtree and Anthony Booker, helped the Stars win last year's Carbondale Holiday Tournament at the arena.

The Salukis have allowed their opponents at least 70 points in all of their last four games, even against Massachusetts at the arena, where SIU is 94-6 since the start of the 2001-02 season.

"If we take quick shots on offense, it kind of hurts our defense, because then we have to guard 20, 30 seconds and play offense for five or 10 seconds," SIU point guard Bryan Mullins said. "We just gotta do a better job of ball-controlling. Our defense is going to get there."

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 351-5087