GAME NOTES: The Diamond Head Classic continues in Honolulu today, and the Clemson Tigers will do battle with the Southern Illinois Salukis.
Clemson struggled mightily at the offensive end of the court in yesterday's 61-48 loss to Texas-El Paso. That setback halted a brief two-game win streak for the Tigers, who are 6-5 overall and have yet to begin ACC play.
As for Southern Illinois, it was no match for Kansas State yesterday, falling in an 83-58 final. That defeat halted a modest two-game win streak for the Salukis, who are 3-6 overall and hopeful for at least one more non-league victory before Missouri Valley Conference play begins.
This game marks the first-ever meeting between Clemson and Southern Illinois on the hardwood.
Clemson found itself deadlocked at 24-24 with UTEP at intermission yesterday, but the Tigers were outscored 23-8 over the final 13 minutes to lose the game by double figures. The Tigers shot 30.4 percent from the field in that affair, including a 3-of-21 showing from three-point range. Defensively, they yielding 51.2 percent shooting to the Miners, who were fact more efficient in the affair. No starter registered more than seven points in the setback for Clemson, which got 13 points from K.J. McDaniels and 12 points from Milton Jennings in a reserve role. The only player on the Tigers' roster averaging double figures in scoring this season is Andre Young, as he is netting 13.0 ppg to go along with 3.5 apg. While Clemson is scoring a modest 61.5 ppg, it is holding opponents to 54.3 ppg on 39.7 percent field goal efficiency.
Just like Clemson, the Salukis have only one double-digit scorer on the roster, as Mamadou Seck provides 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Unfortunately, no other player is netting more than 8.8 ppg for SIU, which is generating a modest 59.2 ppg on 36.6 percent field goal efficiency while limiting foes to 61.2 ppg. In the 25-point loss to Kansas State yesterday, Jeff Early and Justin Bocot led SIU in scoring with 10 points apiece off the bench. None of the five starters netted more than five points, as the Salukis shot a dreadful 29.5 percent from the field. A 44-31 rebounding disadvantage certainly didn't help the cause.
Both of these teams are undoubtedly eager to get back on the floor today after each suffered a double-digit setback yesterday. Clemson will knock off the Salukis with the help of a stingy defensive effort.
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