The Southern Illinois Salukis held off the Drake Bulldogs 66-61 in a closely contested matchup at the Knapp Center, with Damien Mayo Jr. leading the charge with 22 points, including 5 crucial points in the final 2 minutes of the game. This win marked the Salukis' 13th victory of the season, and it came on the heels of a 3-2 stretch over their last 5 games, where they averaged 72.2 points per game and allowed 67.2 points per contest. In contrast, the Drake Bulldogs have struggled mightily, losing all 5 of their last games, including a 103-90 thrashing at the hands of Belmont, and averaging a mere 74.8 points per game while surrendering a whopping 87.2 points per contest over that same span. The Bulldogs' Jalen Quinn did his best to stem the tide, notching 23 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Salukis' balanced attack, which saw 3 players score in double figures.
As the game wore on, it became clear that the Salukis' ability to limit the Bulldogs' scoring opportunities would be the key to their success. Drake managed just 25 points in the second half, a far cry from the 36 they scored in the first half, and the Salukis outscored them 35-25 over the final 20 minutes. This defensive effort was a significant factor in the Salukis' win, and it marked a continuation of their strong defensive play over their last 5 games, where they allowed an average of just 67.2 points per contest. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency on the defensive end, allowing an average of 87.2 points per game over their last 5 contests. With 5 minutes remaining in the game, the Salukis held a slim 58-55 lead, but they managed to stretch that advantage to 7 points with just 1 minute left, thanks in large part to the clutch shooting of Mayo Jr., who scored 5 of his 22 points in the final 2 minutes of the game.
The Salukis' Quel'Ron House was another key contributor, scoring 15 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, including a crucial pass to Mayo Jr. for a layup with just 30 seconds remaining. House's all-around effort was a major factor in the Salukis' win, and it marked his 10th game this season with at least 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' Eli Shetlar and Jaehshon Thomas chipped in with 7 points apiece, but their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by the Salukis' balanced attack. The Bulldogs' inability to find a consistent secondary scorer to support Quinn's 23-point effort was a significant factor in their loss, and it marked the 10th time this season that they have failed to have more than 2 players score in double figures.
The CHD Scout prediction of a 6.5-point Southern Illinois victory was remarkably prescient, and it's clear that the model correctly accounted for the Salukis' strong defensive play and the Bulldogs' struggles on that end of the floor.
CHD Scout Report Card
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The model's prediction was likely influenced by the Bulldogs' recent trend of allowing a whopping 87.2 points per game over their last 5 contests, as well as the Salukis' ability to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities, allowing just 67.2 points per game over their last 5 games. The Salukis' strong defensive effort, combined with their balanced attack, made them a formidable opponent for the Bulldogs, and the model correctly predicted that they would emerge victorious.
As the Salukis look to build on this win, they'll need to continue to find ways to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities, particularly in the second half. Over their last 5 games, they've allowed an average of just 32.4 points per contest in the second half, and that defensive effort has been a major factor in their success. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, must find a way to overcome their recent struggles, which have seen them lose 5 consecutive games by an average margin of 12.4 points. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Bulldogs are running out of time to turn their season around, and they'll need to find a way to overcome their defensive struggles if they hope to make a push for the postseason.
The win was a significant one for the Salukis, who improved to 13-15 on the season and moved to 129 in the NET rankings.
The Salukis' victory marked their 3rd quad 3 win of the season, and it moved them into a more favorable position in terms of their tournament resume. While they still have work to do to secure a spot in the postseason, the win over the Bulldogs was a significant step in the right direction. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, saw their NET ranking drop to 200, and they now face an uphill climb if they hope to make a push for the postseason. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Bulldogs must find a way to overcome their recent struggles and string together some wins if they hope to make a late push for the tournament.
As the season enters its final stretch, the Salukis want to build on this win and make a push for the postseason. With their strong defensive play and balanced attack, they have the potential to make some noise in the tournament, and this win over the Bulldogs was a significant step in the right direction. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, must find a way to overcome their recent struggles and turn their season around if they hope to make a push for the postseason. With 5 games remaining on their schedule, the Bulldogs have a limited window to make a move, and they'll need to find a way to overcome their defensive struggles if they hope to make a late push for the tournament. The Salukis' win marked their 4th victory over a team ranked 200 or worse in the NET rankings, and it improved their record to 10-10 against teams ranked 150 or worse. As they look to build on this win, the Salukis must continue to find ways to limit their opponents' scoring opportunities and make the most of their own chances on the offensive end. With their strong defensive play and balanced attack, they have the potential to make some noise in the tournament, and this win over the Bulldogs was a significant step in the right direction.