Columbus, Ohio – The team that no one wants
to play is still playing thanks to its suffocating defense.
Southern Illinois got three big 3-pointers from Jamaal Tatum and
pulled away from Virginia Tech 63-48 Sunday in a West Regional
second-round game.
Tatum, the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year, scored 21
points. The Salukis have won 15 of 16, and set a school record for
victories in a season.
They advance to meet the Kansas-Kentucky winner in a regional
semifinal on Thursday night in San Jose, Calif. Rest assured that
neither team wants to face a team so dedicated to floor burns and
gritty defense.
Tony Young added 17, Bryan Mullins 11 and Randall Falker 10 for
Southern Illinois (29-6), which surpassed its victory total from the
2000-01 team that also made it to the round of 16.
Jamon Gordon had 16 points and Deron Washington added 15 for
fifth-seeded Virginia Tech (22-12), which hadnt been held to fewer
than 54 points all year. Zabian Dowdell, a first-team All-ACC choice
who came in averaging 18 a game, had just seven.
Tatum had hit the decisive 3 to break a late tie when the teams met
back in November at a tournament in Florida, a game the Salukis won
69-64. Virginia Tech piled up a season-high 19 turnovers in that
game.
They did better holding onto the ball this time around, but never
were able to solve the Salukis’ pressure defense.
