Drake-S. Illinois Preview

2/12/2008 3:53 PM

By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Writer

Drake has been up to just about every challenge it's faced throughout a surprise 2007-08 season. Its next could be the biggest.

The 14th-ranked Bulldogs look to clinch at least a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title while trying for their first victory at Southern Illinois in 12 years when the teams meet Wednesday night.

Drake (22-1, 13-0) won 73-65 over Evansville on Saturday for its 21st consecutive victory, the second-longest run in the nation behind No. 1 Memphis' 23-0 start to the season.

Owning a four-game lead over second-place Illinois State with five league games remaining, Drake needs one win to clinch a share of its first MVC title since tying Louisville and Saint Louis for the league championship in 1970-71. The school's last outright title came in 1969-70.

"We've got to understand that we've got to enjoy every victory we get," Drake coach Keno Davis said.

Key victories at Wichita State, Bradley, Creighton and Illinois State have helped Drake get off to the best start in the conference since Southern Illinois opened 17-0 in 2003-04.

Earning a win Wednesday certainly won't be easy as the Bulldogs look to snap an 11-game losing streak at Southern Illinois dating to a 71-68 victory on Feb. 17, 1996. The Salukis, who have won 17 in a row at home, are 59-1 at SIU Arena versus MVC opponents since the start of the 2001-02 season.

"We've been taking each game saying there's nothing for us to lose. We've been playing the underdog role for a while," Davis said. "If we're in the game in the last 3-4 minutes, I like our chances."

The Bulldogs ended a 17-game losing streak against the Salukis (12-12, 7-6) with a 61-51 home win on Jan. 2.

On Saturday, Drake shot 48.1 percent in the first half to open a nine-point halftime lead against Evansville. The Bulldogs enjoyed a comfortable victory after trailing at some point in the second half in each of their previous eight contests.

"It's nice to have a game like that, where you don't have to worry so much at the end," said forward Jonathan Cox, who had a season-high 21 points. "We did a good job staying together at the end and playing good defense. It's a lot more fun to win like that than like we've won the past couple of games - a lot less stressful."

Leonard Houston had 15 points and Josh Young 13 for Drake, which averages 73.7 points per game.

Young had 24 points on 7-for-10 shooting against SIU last month as Drake forced 18 turnovers and held the Salukis to 39.2 percent shooting.

Southern Illinois, which has been a major disappointment since being ranked as high as No. 19 in November, lost 72-53 at Creighton on Sunday for its worst defeat in conference play this season.

"From the get-go, we didn't establish any toughness," SIU coach Chris Lowery told the school's official Web site. "It was a very finesse game, and we allowed them to dictate tempo."

That loss dropped the Salukis to 1-9 on the road this season, where they are averaging 56.6 points per contest while giving up 63.5. SIU, meanwhile, is averaging 69.0 points and allowing 60.2 while going 9-2 at home.

Bryan Mullins had 11 points for the Salukis on Sunday, while leading scorer Randal Falker was held to seven after scoring 41 combined in his previous two contests.

Falker, who averages 12.6 points, is averaging just 6.6 in eight games versus Drake.