SIU Showdown

(Edwardsville, IL) – It’s a rivalry that should go on and on and on. That was made clear when the Southern Illinois schools met Wednesday night at the Vadalbene Center. A sell-out crowd, regional TV and well played hoops. What else could you ask for?

Southern Illinois entered the Showdown with a perfect 6-0 record against their ‘little brother’ SIUE. Littler in that the Cougar program has been a Division 1 school for just three years.

With the Ohio Valley Conference growing into a league similar to where the Missouri Valley was about a decade ago, this annual rivalry game makes too much sense to end. This was the final game of a four year contract.

Thankfully, a half-time announcement was made that the ‘Showdown’ will continue for at least two more years.

The game itself was dominated by SIU guard Anthony Beane. The junior splashed 20 points in every conceivable way in the first half and was just too good for the Cougar defenders. Already this season the MVC has seen some spectacular scoring performances and this was one to stand back and admire.

Overall the Salukis were bigger, stronger and more efficient, but make no mistake, the difference in this game was Anthony Beane. Head Coach Barry Hinson gushed about his star.

 

SIUE struggled to score and dug an early hole that proved too deep despite a great shooting second half. The big crowd never had a chance to be a factor. Senior Rozell Nunn was playing his first game of the season (team rules infraction) and looked rusty, but he will make a difference for Lennox Forrester’s team in OVC play.

The Cougars are young, but show flashes. Everyone knows about Donivine Stewart (17 pts) but the young posts, Michael Chandler and Keenan Simmons are leapers and make scoring around the rim difficult.

Hinson and SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester are both fans of the Showdown continuing.

The 2015 version of this game will be fun to watch.

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