You couldn't have jammed five more guys in the SIU Arena with a crowbar Saturday night. The fans who managed to squeeze through the door were treated to a stand-up-and-scream thriller of the first order. Southern 's 72-68 win over Creighton vaulted the Dawgs into the outright Valley lead at 12-3 with three games remaining in the conference chase.
The volcanic din ceaselessly gushing forth from a sellout mob certainly bolstered SIU's confidence, but the victory was won by a new, more mature SIU team.
The dauntless Dawgs reached back for whatever it took to win. Seeing teammate Randal Falker harried and bloodied by the aggressive Jays, Matt Shaw rose up and delivered a 25 point classic of a game. Senior Jamaal Tatum shrugged off a thigh injury and the flu to notch 18.
Tony Young had a key 11 points and five assists, and Wesley Clemmons added 7 points in 19 minutes to demonstrate why his stock is rising fast once again.
Southern opened with a 5-0 rush and later was up 8. This launched non- stop delirium among assembled masses, and the cacophany resounded off the roof like somebody blasting a bugle into a galvanized trash can. The fifteen lonesome CU rooters behind the visiting bench looked glum, indeed. Nonetheless, the Jays rapidly recovered their composure and pulled to within 37-35 at the break by parading to the stripe for 20 tosses and netting 13. The disparity in fouls led to some heated woofing from the crowd all half long, but particularly in the final seconds when Tatum was clambering around on the deck at midcourt with numerous Jays harrying him diligently. (Read that: "Poundin' on him pretty good"). Outside the mercury was well below freezing. Inside it felt 110.
Undeterred by the aural shockwaves cast forth by the wild-eyed madmen assembled, the Jays plotted their comeback somewhere off in the concrete recesses of the building...Gatorades in hand. Dana Altman had information to confer to his troops . Meanwhile, down the hall, Chris Lowery was bellowing and cajoling his men, seeking 1 per cent more effort.
The Jays hotfooted it back on the boards and went into overdrive. They snagged their first lead at 43-41. Suddenly, you could hear clocks tick two blocks away. It seemed CU's turn to shine. Dane Watts is a buster. He had 17 including three threes. Nate Funk, possibly the best player in the MVC, got his average with 17 of his own. The colossal ( 6-9, 245) Anthony Tolliver pitched in 15, and Nick Porter scored 13 while leading all rebounders with 7. Soon Creighton's lead inched to six.
The battle-hardened Dawgs then reignited the audience by going up 67-63. Creighton tied it at 67 with 73 clicks left on the board. Tony Young's cold-steady 12 footer with 49 seconds to play was huge. Frantically, Funk drove the lane late, but Shaw ended up with the ball, was fouled, and sealed the game moments later at the line. Steam rose off the court. Both teams exited the premises. Perhaps these two will meet again ...at Arch Madness. You wouldn't want to miss it. THAT'S TONIGHT'S VIEW FROM ROW TWO.
