Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University Saluki Men's Basketball recently issued the following announcement.

The Southern Illinois men's basketball team visits Drake on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. SIU is 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference games after a 58-51 win at Northern Iowa on Saturday night. SIU and Drake have split their games in each of the last two seasons, with each team winning on the road last season.

Southern Illinois (9-6, 2-0 MVC) at Drake (11-4, 0-2 MVC) || Tuesday, January 8 || Des Moines, Iowa || 7 p.m.Watch » ESPN+ with Larry Morgan and Adam Emmenecker

Listen »Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (Stream available through TuneIn)

Live Stats »via Drake

Game Notes »Southern Illinois (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN

Southern Illinois takes its 2-0 conference record to Drake on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

SIU held UNI to 31.5 percent shooting on Saturday night, marking SIU's best defensive effort against an MVC team since Feb. 25, 2009 at Drake.

SIU's four road wins are most in the MVC. SIU's 4-2 record in true road games is tied with Loyola (2-1) for best winning percentage. SIU's 5-3 record and road/neutral games is tied with Drake for best in the MVC.

SIU has assisted on 61.4 percent of its field goals, which ranks 17th nationally.

Eric McGill has three double-doubles with rebounds, which is tied for second in the NCAA among players 6-2 and under.

Since being outrebounded by a combined 37 in the first two games of the season, SIU has outrebounded opponents by 47 in the last 13 games.

In the MVC, SIU is.

1st in FG% defense (.410)

2nd in scoring defense (67.5)

2nd in 3-point FG% (.387)

2nd in blocked shots per game (4.0)

3rd in FG% (.473)

GAME PREVIEW

Southern Illinois has its first road test of the MVC season on Saturday night at Northern Iowa. Tip is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed nationally on ESPN+.

SIU and Drake have split two games each of the last two seasons. The road team won each game last year, and the home team won each game in 2016-17.

SIU leads the all-time series 58-33.

With a win, SIU would.

Be 3-0 in the MVC for the first time since 2015-16

Be 3-0 in the MVC for the second time since 2006-07

Improve to 5-2 at Drake since 2013

Win at Drake and at Northern Iowa in back-to-back years for the first time since 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Win its first two MVC road games for the first time since 2015-16

Win its first two MVC road games for the second time since 2006-07

The game features two of the most unselfish teams in the nation. Drake is 14th nationally in assist percentage (62.2) and SIU is 17th (61.4). Drake's defense is 8th nationally in limiting assists (opponents assist on just 41 percent of field goals.)

SIU ranks 29th nationally (of 353) in 3-point field goal percentage (.387), and Drake ranks 44th nationally in 3-point defense (.300).

Conversely, Drake is 18th nationally in 2-point field goal percentage (.570) and SIU is 47th in 2-point field goal defense (.470).

SIU is 56th nationally in effective field goal percentage (.541) and Drake is 46th (.546).

Drake is led by Nick McGlynn, who is averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field. McGlynn's four double-doubles lead the MVC.

DJ Wilkins (10.8 ppg) and Brady Ellingson (10.1 ppg) also average double figures. Nick Norton (14.0 ppg, 5.9 apg) suffered a season-ending injury in the MVC opener.

LOCK DOWN

SIU held UNI to 31.5 percent shooting on Saturday night, marking SIU's best defensive effort against an MVC team since Feb. 25, 2009 at Drake.

SIU has held Kentucky (71), Buffalo (62), and Saint Louis (56) to their lowest point totals this season.

SIU held No. 25 Buffalo to 62 points on November 12, matching the best defensive performance against Buffalo in the last three seasons.

UB last scored fewer than 62 on March 1, 2016 (vs. Miami (OH) - 59 points). Buffalo averaged 85 points per game last season.

SIU's defense was remarkably impressive in two games against the high-powered and nationally ranked Buffalo Bulls.

SIU held Buffalo, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Howard all under 40 percent shooting. The last time SIU held three-straight opponents under 40 percent shooting was Dec. 6-14, 2014. (Before that: Dec. 11-19, 2011).

SIU's current field goal percentage defense (.410) would be the lowest for the program since the 2005-06 (.405).

Original source can be found here.