Creighton University
Southern Illinois
Men's Basketball Ends Carbondale Jinx, Wins 82-60 Over SIU
2/14/2009 6:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Creighton improved to 21-6 on the year and 11-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
After falling behind 3-0 in the opening two minutes, Creighton scored 12 consecutive points to take control early. Two baskets by Justin Carter and Kenton Walker, as well as one score each from Josh Dotzler, Kenny Lawson Jr. helped CU take the early nine-point edge. In the process, CU held the Salukis without a field goal for a span of 6:25.
Creighton's lead reached 24-10 by the midpoint of the first half and took its largest lead of the first 20 minutes into the locker room at 42-19. The 23-point margin was CU's largest halftime lead of the season and its 42 points were its most in the first half of a game at SIU since also scoring 42 during the 1997-98 season.
CU held the Salukis to 25.9 percent shooting in the opening half while making 51.5 percent on its own end. Carter, Walker and Booker Woodfox each scored eight first half points to pace the visitors. CU also had nine assists against just two turnovers and owned the glass by a 21-17 count.
Creighton maintained a healthy double-digit lead throughout the second half while continuing to bury its longtime rival and quiet the near-sellout crowd. Creighton's largest lead came at 49-21 early in the second stanza, but the Salukis would slowly trim the deficit thanks to six trifectas in the second half.
Woodfox led five Bluejays in double-figures, scoring 15 points. Lawson finished just shy of his first career double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, Kaleb Korver had 14 points, and Walker and P'Allen Stinnett both chipped in with 11 points. The Jays shot 56.9 percent in the game (29-51), including 50 percent (9-18) from three-point range and 88.2 percent from the line (15-17). CU won the glass battle 35-27 and had 17 assists with just 10 turnovers.
Creighton returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts
NOTES: The game was televised nationally on ESPN2 ...Creighton's 42-19 halftime lead was its largest vs. SIU since a 42-16 lead in the 2003 MVC Tournament championship game ...Creighton's largest victory ever in Carbondale prior to today had been 15 in a 75-60 win in Carbondale on Jan. 7, 1974 ...Creighton's 23-point halftime lead was its largest of the season ...Creighton had not won in Carbondale since Feb. 10, 2001 and has won three or more times in every other Valley city since that time ...Creighton's women's baskeball team also defeated Southern Illinois on Saturday, taming the ?Dawgs 66-53 for its 11th straight victory ...Southern Illinois dresses just eight men ...Creighton has now won three straight games vs. SIU and four of the past five to take a 45-36 lead in the all-time series ...Creighton's 22-point win was tied for its fourth-largest MVC road win in school history.
