Box Score

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.

Southern Illinois (2-7, 1-5 MVFC) vs. #6/#6 South Dakota State (6-2, 4-2 MVFC)
Tickets	Buy Tickets
Date & Time	Nov. 10, 2018 | 1 p.m. CT
Location	Carbondale, Illinois • Saluki Stadium (15,000)
TV/Video Stream	ESPN+  Darren Kinnard, Mike Trude, Connor Onion
Live Stats	Provided by SIU
Radio	Saluki Radio Network Mike Reis, Gene Green, Connor James
Radio Stream	TuneIn (free)
Southern Illinois	Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide (PDF)
SDSU	Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide
MVFC	Weekly Notes | Stats
All-Time Series	Salukis trail, 3-5 (H: 1-3, A: 2-2)
Social Media	@SIU_Football   |  @SIUSalukis   |  Saluki Football

Game Promotions 

• Military Appreciation Day: All military, both veterans and those in active duty, will receive a free ticket to the game by presenting their military ID. Military members may also purchase additional tickets for family for $8.
• Hawgs & Dawgs: This $25 Package includes a game ticket on the 50 yard line, a Hawgs & Dawgs commemorative t-shirt, a concessions voucher, and you get to ride onto the field before the game! Participants can meet at Black Diamond in Marion at to pick items up and ride over together at 10:00 a.m. Items that are not picked up at Black Diamond will be available at Will Call at the Cook Portable Warehouse outside the stadium at 11:30 a.m. Registration ends November 7th. Use Promo Code HAWGSNDAWGS.
• Senior Day: On field recognition of our seniors — Ben Bailey, Matt DeSomer, Jaylon Graham, Aaron Harris, Julian Hylton, Darrell James, C.J. Jennings, Raphael Leonard, Jonathan Mixon, Josh Podzielinski, Matt Quarells, Withney Simon, Sam Straub, Bryce Wagner

Series versus South Dakota State
The teams have met eight times since the series began in 2008. After winning the first two meetings, the Salukis have lost five of the last six to the Jackrabbits. They are 1-3 at home against South Dakota State, winning in 2008, 38-35, on a Kyle Dougherty 28-yard field goal with 2:59 to play, followed by an interception by James Wheeler that helped seal the victory.

Five Saluki losses by an average of four points 
The Salukis have lost five games by an average margin of four points. They held second-half leads of a touchdown or more in four of those losses. Last week versus Western Illinois, SIU led by 17 points heading into the fourth quarter before losing by three points on a field goal with 12 seconds remaining.

Salukis on record pace for first downs 
    SIU’s offense averages 25.2 first downs per game, which is on pace to break the school record of 24.8 first downs set by the 2015 team. Southern recorded 70 first downs in Weeks 3-4. The 37 versus SEMO was a school record and the 33 versus South Dakota ranked fourth all-time. 

WR Raphael Leonard — MVFC Receptions leader
WR Raphael Leonard (6-2, 193, Sr.) leads the MVFC with 52 receptions, which ranks eighth all-time in school history and is the most by a Saluki wide receiver since Billy Reed caught 56 passes in 2015. He has caught at least one pass in all 20 games he has played at Southern. Prior to SIU, Leonard played at East Mississippi Community College in 2016, where he was part of Season 2 of the popular Netflix documentary Last Chance U.

QB Matt DeSomer takes over at QB 
QB Matt DeSomer (6-0, 215, Sr.) took over the starting spot for the Salukis during Weeks 7-8 (He also started Week 5 at Youngstown State when Sam Straub was injured). He is 1-4 as a starting quarterback. In the last two weeks, DeSomer has completed 33-of-49 passes for 414 yards, setting new career passing highs in both games. He rallied SIU with four-unanswered touchdowns in a 49-35 win over Missouri State and also ran the ball 14 times for 92 yards. DeSomer has played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and special teams during his 39-game career at SIU. His career stats include 892 rushing yards, 1,004 passing yards, 110 receiving yards, eight rushing touchdowns, nine passing touchdowns and seven tackles.

S Jeremy Chinn steps in at cornerback
Due to injuries in the secondary, S Jeremy Chinn (6-2, 211, Jr.) has started the last two games at cornerback, as the Salukis have played without their top four corners. In the last 21 games, Chinn has seven interceptions and six forced fumbles. A preseason All-MVFC pick, he is tied for second all-time at Southern in forced fumbles (6), trailing only Tyler Williamson (8, 2012-14). 

RB D.J. Davis — second in MVFC All-Purpose Yardage
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 168, Jr.) is a prolific rusher, receiver and return man, who is second in the league in All-Purpose yardage per game (136.3). He is fifth all-time at SIU with 3,828 career all-purpose yards (1,419 rushing, 709 receiving, 1,683 return). He opened the season with four-straight 100-yard rushing games and has five on the season. The last Saluki with five 100-yard games in a season was Malcolm Agnew in 2014. 
 
Dawg Bites

• The last time SIU beat an FCS team ranked No. 6 or higher was on Oct. 12, 2013 when it won at No. 4 Northern Iowa, 24-17.
• QB Matt DeSomer needs 108 yards to become the second quarterback in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in his career. Joel Sambursky (2001-05) rushed for 1,100 yards.
• LB Bryce Notree (6-2, 235, So.) leads the team with 66 tackles. He had 11 as a freshman last year. Notree also has 5.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, and two interceptions
• QB Matt DeSomer has rushed for 100 yards twice this year and three times in his career, tying the school record for career 100-yard rushing games by a QB, set by Fred Gibson in 1987-88.

DE Anthony Knighton — team sacks leader
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 253, So.) leads the team in sacks (6.5) and is the active team leader in career sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (21.0). He has started all 20 games in his career and also has two forced fumbles, six pass breakups and one blocked kick. In 2017, he was runner-up for MVFC Freshman of the Year after recording 6.5 sacks. 

TE Nigel Kilby second in the MVFC in Receiving TDs
TE Nigel Kilby (6-8, 250, Jr.) is second in the MVFC in receiving touchdowns with six, trailing only South Dakota State’s Cade Johnson (11). Kilby also missed two games with a hamstring injury. For the season, he has 15 catches for 214 yards (14.3 average). Kilby transferred from Garden City Community College and was ranked the No. 3 juco tight end prospect in the nation. He originally played for Eastern Michigan.

WR Landon Lenoir with breakout season
Entering the year with nine catches, slot receiver Landon Lenoir (5-11, 190, So.) has already caught 39 passes this season, is second on the team in catches and has caught at least two balls in every game. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 23), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 23) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.

Dawg Bites II 

• With 866 rushing yards this year, D.J. Davis has more yards on the ground than any SIU running back since Jewel Hampton had 1,121 yards in 2011.
• D.J. Davis is the school record holder in career kickoff return yards with 1,683. He has the second-longest kickoff return in school history — 98 yards versus Murray State as a freshman in 2016.
• With a rushing TD against Western Illinois, RB Jonathan Mixon (5-11, 230, Sr.) moved into ninth place all-time at SIU in that category, tying Brandon Jacobs. He is the team’s active scoring leader with 19 career touchdowns (114 points).
• SIU’s defense ranks 24th in the nation in sacks per game (2.67). The team’s 24 sacks has already topped last year’s mark of 23 sacks.
• WR Je’Quan Burton (5-9, 168, Fr.) has impacted all three phases of the game. He has 87 yards rushing, eight catches for 127 yards, and 200 return yards. He is also an emergency cornerback.
• K Griffin Cerra (6-0, 157, Fr.) made his debut two weeks ago at Missouri State and is 11-for-11 on PATs. He is 1-for-1 on field goals, converting a 42-yarder against Western Illinois.
• The Salukis are -4 in the turnover battle for the season (+1 in interceptions, -5 in fumbles).
• The Salukis blocked two field goal attempts versus Indiana State — one by S Jeremy Chinn and one by CB Terrance Henley. The last time SIU blocked two field goals in a game was in 2007 at Arkansas Pine Bluff. CB Craig Turner blocked them both