CARBONDALE, Ill. – No. 25 Buffalo ended the first half on an 11-0 run and never trailed again in a 62-53 win over Southern Illinois on Monday night at SIU Arena.
The high-powered Bulls were coming off a 99-point game at No. 13 West Virginia and averaged 85 points per game last year when they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. SIU held them to 62 points, matching Buffalo’s fewest points in any game since fourth-year head coach Nate Oats was a rookie in 2015-16.
But Southern (0-2), which was playing its second top-25 opponent in as many games to open the season, also gave away 19 turnovers and allowed 17 Buffalo offensive rebounds. UB (3-0) put up 10 more shots than the Salukis in the game and scored 23 points off turnovers.
“We can’t guard much better than that,” SIU head coach Barry Hinson said. “That’s about as best as we can guard. The tell-tale sign of this game was turnovers, an inability to score, and, there late, rebounding. We were doing a good job on the board until the very end.”
SIU played without leading scorer Armon Fletcher, who injured his knee at No. 2 Kentucky on Friday night, and then foul trouble further shortened the bench. Fletcher’s replacement in the starting lineup, Eric McGill, was limited with three first-half fouls, and Aaron Cook, Thik Bol and Kavion Pippen were all saddled with two fouls at the break. SIU was forced into a wide range of lineups, including one that forced guard Sean Lloyd, Jr., to guard Buffalo’s 6-8, 250-pound center Nick Perkins.
“We were diving on the floor for loose balls; we were taking charges; Marcus (Bartley) took the ball out of a guy’s hand over there in the corner,” Hinson said. “Normally, (at halftime) I talk to the staff, but I went right in there and said, ‘That’s a heck of an effort. I’m proud of you.'”
Despite being shorthanded, Southern guarded well–Buffalo’s C.J. Massinburg was held to seven points after scoring 43 against West Virginia–but SIU shot just 37 percent for the game and went 0-for-7 from the 3-point line after the break.
“I can’t fault our effort, and I can’t fault what we did defensively,” Hinson said. “Offensively, I’ll take the blame for that. We have to put our guys in a better position.”
Buffalo, which earlier in the day achieved its first national top-25 ranking in school history, impressed Hinson enough to draw a comparison to Kentucky, which SIU played three days prior.
“I’m not saying they’re better than Kentucky’s guards, but they’re as good as Kentucky’s guards,” Hinson said of Buffalo. “Moving their feet and everything, they’re as good as any guard group we’ve ever played, including the Wichita State groups. That’s a pretty good guard group you saw out there tonight.”
Kavion Pippen led SIU with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting in just 23 minutes. He also added two blocks and two steals. Aaron Cook (11 points) and Sean Lloyd (10 points) also scored in double-figures. Marcus Bartley had a career-best seven rebounds.
SIU played in special American flag uniforms in honor of Veterans Day. The game was the inaugural Charles Helleny Tip-Off Classic. Helleny (Class of ’57) donated the fourth-largest gift in Saluki Athletics history and is a proud season-ticket holder and donor, and a top contributor to the program for more than 60 years.
“I think it’s important for us to recognize that this is Veterans Day, and we as a basketball team don’t take that for granted,” Hinson said. “This was a big evening for a lot of reasons. We also celebrated a gentleman who has meant so much to SIU and our athletics program in Charles Helleny. We are very thankful for veterans and very thankful for Charles Helleny and what he’s meant to this university.”
The Salukis are back in action on Saturday, November 17, at SIU Arena against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The high-powered Bulls were coming off a 99-point game at No. 13 West Virginia and averaged 85 points per game last year when they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. SIU held them to 62 points, matching Buffalo’s fewest points in any game since fourth-year head coach Nate Oats was a rookie in 2015-16.
But Southern (0-2), which was playing its second top-25 opponent in as many games to open the season, also gave away 19 turnovers and allowed 17 Buffalo offensive rebounds. UB (3-0) put up 10 more shots than the Salukis in the game and scored 23 points off turnovers.
“We can’t guard much better than that,” SIU head coach Barry Hinson said. “That’s about as best as we can guard. The tell-tale sign of this game was turnovers, an inability to score, and, there late, rebounding. We were doing a good job on the board until the very end.”
SIU played without leading scorer Armon Fletcher, who injured his knee at No. 2 Kentucky on Friday night, and then foul trouble further shortened the bench. Fletcher’s replacement in the starting lineup, Eric McGill, was limited with three first-half fouls, and Aaron Cook, Thik Bol and Kavion Pippen were all saddled with two fouls at the break. SIU was forced into a wide range of lineups, including one that forced guard Sean Lloyd, Jr., to guard Buffalo’s 6-8, 250-pound center Nick Perkins.
“We were diving on the floor for loose balls; we were taking charges; Marcus (Bartley) took the ball out of a guy’s hand over there in the corner,” Hinson said. “Normally, (at halftime) I talk to the staff, but I went right in there and said, ‘That’s a heck of an effort. I’m proud of you.'”
Despite being shorthanded, Southern guarded well–Buffalo’s C.J. Massinburg was held to seven points after scoring 43 against West Virginia–but SIU shot just 37 percent for the game and went 0-for-7 from the 3-point line after the break.
“I can’t fault our effort, and I can’t fault what we did defensively,” Hinson said. “Offensively, I’ll take the blame for that. We have to put our guys in a better position.”
Buffalo, which earlier in the day achieved its first national top-25 ranking in school history, impressed Hinson enough to draw a comparison to Kentucky, which SIU played three days prior.
“I’m not saying they’re better than Kentucky’s guards, but they’re as good as Kentucky’s guards,” Hinson said of Buffalo. “Moving their feet and everything, they’re as good as any guard group we’ve ever played, including the Wichita State groups. That’s a pretty good guard group you saw out there tonight.”
Kavion Pippen led SIU with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting in just 23 minutes. He also added two blocks and two steals. Aaron Cook (11 points) and Sean Lloyd (10 points) also scored in double-figures. Marcus Bartley had a career-best seven rebounds.
SIU played in special American flag uniforms in honor of Veterans Day. The game was the inaugural Charles Helleny Tip-Off Classic. Helleny (Class of ’57) donated the fourth-largest gift in Saluki Athletics history and is a proud season-ticket holder and donor, and a top contributor to the program for more than 60 years.
“I think it’s important for us to recognize that this is Veterans Day, and we as a basketball team don’t take that for granted,” Hinson said. “This was a big evening for a lot of reasons. We also celebrated a gentleman who has meant so much to SIU and our athletics program in Charles Helleny. We are very thankful for veterans and very thankful for Charles Helleny and what he’s meant to this university.”
The Salukis are back in action on Saturday, November 17, at SIU Arena against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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