Tuesday night belonged to New Hampshire, the Big East and the Big Ten but there was one mid major conference holding court as well. The Missouri Valley played three games, highlighted by the most recent Jekyll and Hyde performance by Southern Illinois. When they lose, the Salukis shoot poorly and turn the ball over in bushels. Last night, they shot 67% in the first half and gave it away 11 times and, thus, cruised past Bradley 77-64 in Carbondale. Matt Shaw led the way with 18 points but five Salukis were in double-figures thanks to a focus on ball control. Bryan Mullins had seven assists, which led to good shots, trips to the free throw line and a key win in their attempt to make a run at the MVC crown. As always, their defense was in fine form.
Bradley, playing their fourth straight without point guard Daniel Ruffin, turned the ball over 18 times. Sam Maniscalco, playing more minutes in Ruffin's absence, had six of them. That's why, even as SIU's shooting dipped to 27% in the second half, Bradley couldn't cut into their 18-point halftime lead. Bradley's lost six straight and Ruffin's hernia surgery appears to be the nail in the coffin of their season.
