OPENING TIP: The first of five straight away from the Gentry Center starts on Thursday evening as the So Cal Challenge Midwest style kicks off with the Tigers at Southern Illinois. The Salukis will join TSU in San Juan Capistrano, California next week as part of the eight-team event from The Pavilion at JSerra.
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU expanded its partnership with Cromwell Media naming 102.1 FM The Ville as the flagship station for TSU men's basketball. "The Voice of the Tigers" Greg Pogue returns for his 11th season behind the mic and will be reunited with his longtime partner Albert Dawson. The pregame show will begin 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the contest not the actual tip time in doubleheader situations. The action can also be heard on the TSU Tigers app.
The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (3-0, 0-0 OVC) at Southern Illinois Salukis (2-1, 0-0 MVC)
Date/Time: Thursday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Banterra Center || Carbondale, Ill.
TV: ESPN+ — Noah Reed (pxp), Mike Trude (analyst)
Radio: 102.1 FM The Ville — Greg Pogue (pxp), Albert Dawson (analyst)
LIVE STATS
SERIES INFORMATION: Thursday is the 22nd all-time meeting between TSU and Southern Illinois. The hosts own a 14-7 lead over the TSU. The last time these two met was in 2014, an 84-67 win for SIU. The Salukis are 9-1 all-time against the Tigers in Carbondale.
LAST TIME OUT VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Jay Harris finished with a team-high 23 points and Charles Tucker added 16 points but SIU's Anthony Beane led all scorers with 32 points in the Salukis' win over TSU, 84-67, on November 18, 2014. SIU led 46-26 at the half and for the 17-point win.
SCOUTING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: SIU is 1-1 against OVC foes after a 71-53 loss to Southern Indiana last Sunday. The Salukis started the season with a 94-63 win over OVC member Little Rock and Big 12's Oklahoma State. Lance Jones leads SIU with 15.3 points per game shooting 41.5 percent from the field. Marcus Domask leads the team in rebounds (6.7) and is second in points (14.3).
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU: Christian Brown made his 2022-23 season debut with 20 points on 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the outside in 19 minutes off the bench. Brown played in 10 games last season before a season-ending injury cut his season short. His 20 points set a new career-best for the Hopkins, South Carolina, native.
