WSU 55, SIU 54- Final. WSU breaks an 11-game losing streak at SIU Arena. Hatch leads WSU 13. Stutz adds 12.
WSU 55, SIU 54 (9 seconds) - That’s the first free throw Clevin has missed on the road.
WSU 55, SIU 52 (28 seconds) - I would guess SIU will either go to Freeman or Teague. Teague is 4 of 6 from the line, which is silly good for him. Do the Shockers throw a change at SIU? A zone? A trap?
WSU 55, SIU 52 (1:28) - Superior inbound play for the Shockers. They had to have that basket.
WSU 53, SIU 48 (3:31) - J.T. and Garrett playing together, which doesn’t happen often. Both teams with six fouls. SIU’s Tony Freeman is doing a good defensive job on Hannah. He isn’t getting an openings to shoot the three.
WSU 49, SIU 44 (7:42) - Bad stretch with Hannah on the bench. It wasn’t just Williams – his veterans need to help him out and handle the ball. When Clevin sits, the Shockers turn soft.
WSU 44, SIU 37 (11:26) - This is more Shocker layups than in any of my previous four trips to SIU Arena. WSU is getting great shots.
WSU 42, SIU 34 (13:28) – Six of WSU’s past eight points from Garrett Stutz. He is doing what I thought J.T. Durley would do. Eight points and four rebounds for Stutz.
WSU 38, SIU 34 (14:42) – Hatch is 6 of 7 from the field. He looks like he plays for Princeton with all his layups. Somebody is losing him.
WSU 29, SIU 28 (Halftime) - The Shockers missed a chance to build a significant lead. Their 10 turnovers helped SIU stay close. Graham Hatch leads WSU with nine points. Kevin Dillard leads SIU with eight.
WSU 25, SIU 22 (2:33) - WSU with three turnovers and a difficult shot in the lane by Hannah since taking a 25-19 lead.
WSU 25, SIU 22 (3:25) - Nine turnovers for WSU. The Shockers are getting good shots – 10 of 20 from the field. No shots for Toure Murry. Justin Bocot is doing a good job denying him.
WSU 18, SIU 12 (7:57) - Bad turnovers for WSU. I don’t think it’s SIU’s pressure. WSU may regret not extending its lead. SIU 6 of 17 from the field.
WSU 16, SIU 6 (11:46) - Bonus points from Demetric Williams. Nice contribution. MVC opponents have shot 241 free throws to SIU’s 188. That’s a huge disparity, and one WSU needs to take advantage of. However, WSU has six team fouls to SIU’s three.
WSU 9, SIU 4 (15:33) - Shockers went right at SIU center Gene Teague and drew a foul. Teague has been playing well, but he’s a freshman and J.T. Durley should score on him. Teague got popular fast – the fans chants Teeeaaaague after a basket or rebound. If he can get in better shape, he will be a force in the MVC.
Lots of empty seats tonight, compared to past seasons. Sunday night is probably a hard sell to families when the team is winning big. It’s a good-sized crowd, however, and this place can get very loud.
Tonight’s game is a hard one to call. SIU is hard to figure out. It, along with Illinois State, are the two teams that appear to be talented, yet aren’t playing as well as I expect. Wichita State is playing well, but their performances on the road leaves room to doubt.
The Shockers know there is almost no room for error. It’s going to be tough to catch Northern Iowa. A loss tonight hands the Panthers a three-game lead with seven to play.
WSU has a 17-game losing streak in Omaha. It has an 11-game losing streak here. I’ve walked away from games at Creighton thinking WSU played well and could have won. I haven’t had that feeling in my four previous trips to SIU Arena.
Even the 2006 team didn’t play well here.
WSU coach Gregg Marshall stopped by Poplar Bluff, Mo., on his way to Carbondale to watch Ehimen Orukpe play Saturday for Three Rivers Community College. He was pleasantly surprised to see him play as much as he did, considering Orukpe had missed seven games with a stress fracture in his left foot. Orukpe’s defense remains a plus. He continues to be a project with the basketball. Overall, Marshall was pleased with what he witnessed. He knows WSU coaches will get a lot of time to work with Orukpe over the next three seasons and the starting point is a good one.
Evansville lost at home to Indiana State today. I would say the 0-18 watch is on for real. The Aces are 0-11 with road games remaining against WSU, Creighton, SIU and Drake. No obvious wins there. Home opponents are Bradley, WSU and Northern Iowa. That’s a tough schedule.