Southern Illinois University Edwardsville issued the following announcement on Nov. 19
SIUE dropped its opening game at the YSU/J. Arnold Wealth Management Company Tournament 70-60 to Niagara.
The Cougars fell to 1-3. Niagara improved to 1-2.
"We have a good group of guys who fought and who want to win," SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone said. "They care and they are frustrated right now because they sense we let one get away from us."
After falling behind 7-2 early, SIUE battled back to tie the game at seven on a three-pointer by DeeJuan Pruitt at 14:46. It was 9-8 Niagara, when the Cougars scored the next 10 points to lead 18-9 with 9:42 left in the half. A three-point play by Pruitt with 5:38 to play in the first half, gave the Cougars their largest lead at 26-13.
SIUE led 30-24 at the break. SIUE twice got the lead back to eight in the second half. It was 35-27 after a Ray'Sean Taylor layup with 17:43 left and then the Purple Eagles made their push. Niagara scored 12 of the next 15 points to lead 39-38. The Cougars briefly regained the lead at 41-39, but Niagara's Marcus Hammond hit a three-pointer with 11:26 to play to give the Purple Eagles a lead they'd never relinquish.
"They got the loose balls," Barone said of Niagara. "We stopped rebounding. We were getting stops, but they'd get to the loose ball and put it in. We stopped moving the ball like we needed to."
Niagara was 5-10 from three-point range in the second half and shot 44 percent overall for the second half. SIUE shot just 37 percent for the game and 33 percent from three-point range.
"They went to the zone, and we were getting really good looks, but we stopped reversing the ball and doing what the game plan was," Barone added. "We got stagnant and a little hesitant."
The Cougars turned the ball over nine times after halftime, following just five turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Shamar Wright led all scorers with 20 points, to tie his career high. He was 8-15 from the field and added a game-best nine rebounds.
"He was playing hard, and he was sticking to what the thought process was going into the game," Barone said of Wright. "He was moving around, and guys were finding him. Shamar did a good job."
Pruitt added 12 points and five rebounds. Ray'Sean Taylor scored 12 points, all coming in the second half, after missing most of the first half with foul trouble. Shaun Doss, Jr. scored five points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Hammond led Niagara with 16 points.
SIUE will continue tournament play with hosts Youngstown State Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT.
"You watch some film and just go to work," Barone said. "You have to be able to accept that there were some mistakes tonight, but really, we have to move on. As coaches we'll address a few things, but the reality is that we have to game plan for Youngstown State who we see in less than 24 hours. We'll be ready."
Original source can be found here.
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