Converted to kilowatts, the intensity of the SIU-Evansville battle Saturday could have lit up half of North America. No quarter was asked or given by either side. It was senior night at the Arena, and an there was an emotional blast-furnace quality to the atmosphere in the Arena all night.
The 14-15 Aces appeared confident and swaggered out to center court, intent on matching their previous 75-68 home win over the Dawgs. The Salukis, led by senior starters Jamaal Tatum and Tony Young, weren't having it. SIU snared the opening tip and seconds later Matt Shaw slammed one down. Game on.
Immediately, an electrified version of Randal Falker began to dominate the proceedings. Left undoubled by some crafty ball rotation schemes, he rolled up 18 first half points. Slick entry passes sailed in from all over. Tatum and Young were on their way to a combined 32 points and 11 assists with no turnovers. Here was Falker playing at a speed no one could match. Left hand, right hand, finger roll, drop step, off the glass... the whole package was there.
Not that Evansville didn't show up. Led by burly 6-8 senior Matt Webster, they bounced Salukis off every surface in sight. Tyrone Green tried to drive and was jolted so hard the ball sailed over 20 feet higher than the backboard. In one moment of memorable "mayhem," Shaw, Falker, and a couple of Evansville men went hurtling into, under, and over press row. Suddenly stats sheets, pencils, scorebooks, and computers erupted into the air and two middle-aged gents got starfished on the concrete... tongues lolling and eyes bugged. Somehow everybody got untangled.
Brian Mullins, Young, and Tyrone Green all endeavored to catch the Aces' talented 5-11 sophomore guard Jason Holsinger. By the half they were kind of getting the hang of it. The Dawgs had a little daylight at 39-33. Holsinger would finish with 11.
A real stomping in the MVC is 10 points. The Aces would not be so rudely dispatched, and muscled up for a 44-43 lead. Chris Lowery glowered. He stomped and waved his arms like a man trying to chase off a gorilla. He became hoarse.
A series of somewhat bizarre calls were made during the game... one of which led to a prolonged, nearly deafening level of spasmodic, insensate shrieking from the crowd. It was a game with several jarring 4 man pile-ups (no call), followed seconds later by brush-touch contacts (WHISTLE!).
In the end Southern was too much on this night. Falker shook off a painful cramp, got back out there and closed with 30 points. The Dawgs hung on, 76-69, to finish at 15-3, 25-5 going into the MVC tournament.
Now everybody gets a reset. Not since Illinois State, in 1998, has a Valley team won both the league and tournament titles. The Dawgs want a prime NCAA seed. Several teams are playing to get in to the field of 65.
One of the best features is the league's degree of parity. Get cocky and you get smacked around. The Salukis are wise to that. The key is to play hard and win. Next stop, St. Louis.
THAT'S TONIGHT'S VIEW FROM ROW TWO.
