With the needle on the intensity meter twitching between "crazed" and "combat", and the Arena partisans whipped into a frenzy that occasionally approached bedlam, it was a showplace game of Valleyball in January. The Dawgs win was hugely entertaining, but settled nothing. Southern took a half game lead in the conference race, but there is way more action coming soon to a campus near you. If you live within, say, a few hundred miles, find a way into an MVC gym. Consider earplugs.
Northern racked up 33 points on threes, and Travis Brown led the way with 4-5. The Cats hit 82% from the line. They outboarded the Dawgs 27-24, led by 6-8 Grant Stout who snared 13. Brooks McKowen topped all scorers with 17. If this sounds like the anatomy of a win, it almost was. A last instant shot , which actually went down, and would have tied the game, was reviewed and waved off, leaving the panting Dawgs the victors.
Southern seized the Valley lead with hard nosed play all night. The Salukis romped to 29 turnover points as NIU lost the ball 24 times. Bryan Mullins stood strong. In his finest performance to date, he scored 16 and was fantastic on defense. Matt Shaw grabbed 11 boards.
Reserve players played a limited role. They appeared as stunned as people who go to a picnic, only to end up in a free-fire zone. Suitably impressed, they exited the hardwood with alacrity and seldom returned. NIU had a paltry 5 bench points and SIU just 2. Only the main men could handle the unrelenting, physical pace. Every starter on both teams went over 30 minutes, with Matt Shaw sweating his way through 39.
Chris Lowery got sputtering mad, and up in his troops' faces. He smashed a clipboard in the huddle. Northern's Ben Jacobsen got a T and went down raving.
Southern will be home for six of the next nine contests. Illinois State calls next, on Saturday, and will be seeking revenge for a 68-49 trashing at Normal. The chase is on and tickets for
Arch Madness in St. Louis are going at a blistering rate.
THAT'S TONIGHT'S VIEW FROM ROW TWO.
