CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- On Friday, SIU came up with a big win over Murray State.
The day before the game, Bryan Mullins addressed the media.
Mullins said "Our guys have to be ready at the start at 6:30. We can't afford to start at 6:45. Can't afford to start at 7. We have to be ready from the start."
That stuck with me.
And his guys listened. They started fast and finished strong.
Salukis hit 3 of their first 4 three point attempts, shot 58 percent from long distance in the first half, 47 percent for the game. SIU leads the Missouri Valley in three point shooting with 44 percent.
And you couldn't have asked for a better ending. Salukis made 7 of 8 free throws in the games final minute. That lone miss was with 2 seconds left in the game and SIU up 4. SIU also leads the Valley in free throw percentage at 79 percent.
Now you know the secret ingrediants to SIU's 3-0 start to the season.
"When we played the right way and shared the ball and the ball didn't stick, I think that is when we created opportunities for our guys and I thought our guys did a pretty good job of driving through contact and getting them in the bonus and getting to the free throw line," Mullins said. "I thought that was important."
SIU plays North Dakota on back to back days starting Thursday, December 17, 1 PM from inside the Banterra Center.
