Dec. 17, 2008

Postgame Quotes in PDF Format

Final Stats

SIU 73, NIU 58 Final Box

DeKalb, Ill. - Sophomore guard Michael Patton recorded a season-best mark in scoring (12 points) for the second-consecutive game, but the Northern Illinois men's basketball team (4-7) dropped a 73-58 decision against in-state rival and defensive-minded Southern Illinois (4-5), for its first home loss of the season at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.

Patton's 12 points shared the team's scoring lead with sophomore guard Darion "Jake" Anderson, and freshman backcourt mate Mike DiNunno chipped in 11 points. SIU put three players in double-figures, led by Carlton Fay and 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year Bryan Mullins, who each chipped in 14 points. The Salukis shot 59.1 percent (26-of-44) from the field, and held a 36-27 rebounding advantage. NIU converted just 7-of-19 attempts from the free throw line (36.8 percent).

"I thought our kids battled most of the night," said head coach Ricardo Patton. "You can't shoot 36 percent from the free throw line and beat many teams. We saw where each of the programs stands at this point. My only wish is that we continue the series (against SIU).

"We knew going into the game that Southern is one of the best defensive teams we've seen in a long time. They are a very good basketball team defensively. They all shoot a high percentage, and the reason they shoot so well is they don't take bad shots. Good defensive teams take you out of your rhythm."

SIU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead just 2:28 into the game, with Mullins providing two quick field goals. The Salukis claimed their first double-digit advantage at the 12:59 mark of the first-half, after Kevin Dillard's driving lay-up gave SIU a 15-4 advantage. The Huskies fell behind by as many as 13 points in the ensuing five-minute stretch, before trimming the lead to eight, 26-18, after Ante Dzepina's second field goal.

SIU answered with an 8-2 surge, and claimed a 34-20 lead after a jumper by Dillard. Dzepina capped off a perfect 3-for-3 first-half shooting performance with a lay-up at the 1:53 mark, cutting the Saluki lead to just seven, 35-28. But a jumper by SIU's Wesley Clemmons, followed by Mullins splitting two free throws, pushed SIU's lead back to double-digits (38-28) heading into the locker room at halftime.

The Huskies opened the second-half on a 6-2 spree, and pulled within six, 40-34, with 18:02 remaining. SIU called timeout, and countered with an 8-4 run to extend its lead back to double-digits (48-38) just prior to the first media timeout of the second stanza (15:14). Michael Patton answered with a three-pointer on the other end, trimming the deficit back to seven, 48-41.

But NIU could draw no closer. The Salukis strung together a convincing 12-0 run, and claimed a 60-41 lead with 11:00 remaining after a three-pointer by Fay. The Huskies pulled within 16 points three more times down the stretch, before Mullins' final field goal gave the Salukis a 71-53 lead with 1:42 left. Michael Patton scored the final three points of the game, providing the final 15-point margin (73-58).

NIU will wrap up its scheduled non-conference slate Saturday, when the Huskies take on in-state rival Loyola University-Chicago beginning at 5 p.m. The game will follow the NIU women's basketball team's non-conference tilt against Illinois-Chicago, which tips off at 2 p.m.