Nov. 7, 2009

By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com

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CARBONDALE, Ill. - You couldn't have written a better script for the ending of Saturday's exhibition game between Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana. In fact, it was one of the rare instances where both head coaches went home happy.

Saluki head coach Chris Lowery breathed a sigh of relief after Nick Evans tipped in the winning basket at the buzzer to lift SIU to a 71-69 victory.

His former assistant, Rodney Watson, grimaced for just a moment after the ball went through the hoop. Any disappointment he might have felt in losing his first game as USI head coach disappeared quickly. Twenty-one years on the Saluki staff will do that to a man. He grinned and proceeded to hug every coach and player on SIU's roster.

"It was certainly bittersweet," Watson said afterward. "I thought we could get them into overtime and maybe steal one out of here, but it was a great college game. It was what we both needed for a practice game. It is exactly how the game needed to go."

The irony of Evans scoring the winning basket was not lost on Watson, who recruited the 6-foot-11 sophomore and was his closest mentor the past two seasons.

"You know, it was awful," Watson laughed. "But no, I'm really proud of him. Nick and I have a really long relationship, and it's great to see Nick just really getting better and being a major factor on this team."

Evans finished with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds. He said he still leans on Watson for advice.

"We knew this game was coming for six months, and I was kind of scared about where my mentality would be," Evans said. "Coach Lowery said to go out and make us proud - we've put a lot of work into you."

For much of the game, the Division II Screaming Eagles held the upper hand. Potent 3-point shooting by Nick Duncheon and Illinois transfer Jamar Smith (12-of-17 combined) not only kept them in the game, but helped USI establish a 10-point lead midway through the second half.

The Salukis rallied when they went to a small lineup that featured four guards and a center. Freshman point guard Kendal Brown-Surles, who finished with six steals, provided the defensive spark, whileTony Freeman (16 points) and Kevin Dillard (14 points) took care of the offense. Freemand and Dillard scored all but six of their points in the second half.

"I'm pleased with our effort in the last five minutes of the game, but before that, we were out-played, out-coached, out-toughed," said Lowery.

SIU played most of the game without its starting front court. Carlton Fay served the second game of a two-game suspension, while Anthony Booker played only 13 minutes, leaving after a second-half collision that left him woozy.

The result was a 45-31 advantage for Southern Indiana in the rebounding department.

"Carlton Fay coming back will change that," Lowery said. "They were knocking us around. It wasn't that they were jumping over us. They were running through us getting rebounds. It's not just our `bigs,' it's our guards and everybody. Everybody has to become a better rebounder."

Lowery said his team needed to play a tough opponent before the regular season begins next Saturday. A perennial powerhouse at its level, Southern Indiana lived up to its reputation.

"I wanted to play a high-end team to see if we could guard them," Lowery said. "They're tough. I know what they're getting in practice. I know what they're working at. I know how hard he's coaching them in practice."

Watson said his team needed to face a Division I opponent before it opens up regular-season play.

"I'm so grateful that (Chris) would play us," he said. "Jamar needs to play a game of that caliber, and all the rest of our players need to play a game of that caliber."

So what did he say to Lowery after the game?

"I told him I am so grateful -- he didn't have to play us," Watson said. "I also said we are both going to have good teams, and we are."