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Salukis Surge: Southern Illinois Eyes Upset Over Struggling Drake
5 Mar
Summary
- Drake enters MVC Tournament on a nine-game losing streak.
- Southern Illinois closed regular season winning four consecutive games.
- Damien Mayor Jr. averages 20.5 points against Drake this season.
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament begins with Drake facing Southern Illinois. Drake enters the tournament as significant underdogs, having lost their last nine games and finishing the regular season with a 6-14 conference record. Their overall struggles are reflected in their defensive efficiency, ranking 264th nationally.
Southern Illinois, however, finished the regular season strong, winning their last four games for a 10-10 MVC record and a 16-15 overall standing. They have demonstrated the ability to compete with top conference teams, even securing a road win against the No. 1 seed Belmont earlier this season.
Drake's defensive struggles are highlighted by their ranking outside the top 150 in adjusted offensive efficiency and 263rd in opponent effective field goal percentage. The Salukis' defense is a major strength, ranking 30th in adjusted defensive efficiency and holding opponents to 30.4 percent from deep.
A key player for Southern Illinois is senior guard Damien Mayor Jr., who has excelled against Drake. He is averaging 20.5 points, shooting over 50 percent from three-point range in their matchups. His performance will be crucial for the Salukis as they aim to advance in the tournament.
