Box Score WICHITA, Kan.- The Wichita State men's basketball team fell to 15-9 on the season and 6-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play after a 54-46 loss to Southern Illinois (19-5, 10-3) Saturday afternoon inside Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers were led by Kyle Wilson's 11 points, and 10 points from P.J. Couisnard. Jamaal Tatum fueled the SIU attack with a game-high 18 points. Randal Falker and Matt Shaw also reached double figures with 13 points each.
Falker put the Salukis on the board first with a layup on the team's first possession. Tony Young followed with a layup of his own for a quick 4-0 lead. WSU did not score until Wilson made a layup and was fouled by Shaw. Wilson connected on the free-throw for the three-point play. The Shockers stayed close and pulled within three, 13-10, on a baseline Sean Ogirri jumper with 10:20 to play in the half.
The Salukis answered with a 10-0 run to stretch the lead to 23-10 on a Tatum three-pointer with just under seven minutes on the clock. The teams traded baskets until the end of the half as SIU went into the break with a 32-19 lead.
SIU's smothering defense held WSU to just 26 percent shooting in the first half. Tatum finished the half with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting as the Salukis shot 62 percent in the half.
The two squads traded baskets to start the second half until SIU went on a 5-0 run for its biggest lead of the game, 42-25, with 9:18 to go. WSU cut the Saluki lead to five after a 12-3 run made the score 47-42, with four minutes to play. Every time the Shockers threatened, SIU came up with a big shot to stop the WSU momentum.
Tatum came off of a screen and hit a jumper to quiet the crowd and push the lead back to seven. WSU did not score again until two Wilson free-throws with 53 seconds left to cut the deficit to five. SIU made free-throws down the stretch to pull away for the 54-46 win.
The Shockers tightened up defensively in the second half, holding the Salukis to 33 percent shooting. WSU could never get in a rhythm and shot just 27 percent for the game.
“Southern's defense was obviously the difference,” said head coach Mark Turgeon. “They were tremendous all game.”
WSU will be back in action Thurs., Feb. 8 as the Shockers host Indiana State. Tip-off is at 7:05 p.m.
-Wichita State-
