SIU wins a shootout 75-70

Welcome to the first live game blog at Saluki Hoops

SIU looks good early on offense. Early on Southern looks like the team that averages 80 points a game and not the other way around. Western KY is trapping on defense and they have forced the Salukis to take a few bad shots but we are also getting wide open looks generated from the double teams.

Brian Mullins got 2 quick fouls and had to go to the bench. Wesley Clemmons came in and immediately provided a spark. Clemmons got a quick steal and cashed in the layup at the other end. SIU cant do much wrong at this point, and if the bench guys continue to play at a high level this is going to be a blowout.

Tony Young appears to have awoken. He has 4 three pointers already in this game with 3 minutes to go in the first half. With Tony Young stepping up and scoring its going to be hard to beat SIU today.

WOW- Western Kentucky really put together a nice 10-0 run at the end of the first half to make this a game. This looks more like the sharp shooting team that we all heard about.

Early in the second half Tony Young knocks down another 3 ball to take back some of the momentum.

Courtney Lee is on fire now in the second half. He just about cut the lead to 2 points with a big three but it rattled out of the hoop. SIU dodged a bullet there.

SIU is stuck on 42 points. There is 11 minutes to go and Southern is not going to be able to rely on their defense forever.

Wesley Clemmons makes a nice athletic drive for bucket to put SIU up 44-38 with 10 minutes to go.

SIU looks helpless against the WKY press. Mullins made one nice pass for an easy basket but other than that the WKY pressure has been very effective.

Now this game is getting ugly and both teams are already in the bonus with 8:43 remaining. SIU really needs to hit free throws in order to win.

Courtney Lee has gone cold from the floor, but he is a pure scorer and I dont expect him to stop shooting. The kid has some serious talent. There he goes- a MONSTER dunk.

SIU big men are WIDE OPEN down low. Falker and Shaw are going to have a chance to win this thing for SIU if we can get the ball. SIU has a one point lead but WKY can put up points in a hurry.

Western Ky has tied this game at 53-53 this going to be a heck of a finish.

Its weird seeing SIU with a size advantage. We HAVE TO get the ball down low.

Both teams are now in double bonus with WKY taking their first lead of the game after trailing by 15 in the first half.

There we go! It looks like Lowery has instructed the guys to go get the ball down low, and Falker takes the lead back for SIU.

Tony Young hits a big three to put SIU up by 4. However, he probably should have passed with Shaw and Falker wide open.

Now its a free throw contest- Tony Young hits two free throws to push the lead to 6.

SIU hit 12 free throws in a row down the stretch. Thats a good way to hold a lead. WKY just would not go away at the end of this game and they put up a heck of a fight. SIU just outscored them. What a great win for SIU.

Western Kentucky deserves a lot of credit; they have a nice program and a nice gym. This is mid-major basketball at its best.

What a fun game to watch. Was this really SIU playing? 75 points? Wow. Tony Young is the Saluki Hoops player of the game with a 22 point effort. Good to have you back Tony.