Junior Lorenzo Gordons ninth straight double-digit game wasnt enough for Illinois State as the physical guard play of Southern Illinois forced 20 Redbird turnovers en route to a 61-49 Missouri Valley Conference victory at SIU Arena Thursday night.
With the loss, the Redbirds fell to 8-3 on the season and 0-1 in league play, while Southern Illinois improved to 9-2 and 1-0, respectively.
The Redbirds trailed by as much as 13 points in the second half, but closed within six points twice with less than six minutes in the game. Gordon hit a jumper at the 5:24 mark to close within 51-45, but a pair of free throws by Darren Brooks and a jumper by Jamal Tatum pushed the lead back to 10 points at 55-45. Gordon scored four straight ISU points to make the score 55-49, but SIU closed out the game with six straight points to close the game.
For the third time in the last three games the Redbirds fell behind by double digits in the first half. With the game knotted at 6-6, SIU went on a 11-0 run, including five points by Tony Young, to take a 17-6 lead with 12:34 left in the initial stanza. The Redbirds were able to get within five points at 27-22, but the Salukis closed out the half with a 6-1 spurt to take a 33-23 lead at the intermission.
In addition to the turnovers, Illinois State shot 4-for-17 (.235) from the free throw line but was still able to make it close in the second half by holding SIU to 39.3 percent shooting in the second stanza. Gordon finished with 13 points, while Trey Guidry and Nedu Onyeuku each finished with 10 points apiece.
Brooks led the Salukis with a game high 16 points and Young chipped in 12 off the bench.
The Redbirds return to action on December 30 when they host SMS at Redbird Arena.
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