By: Howard Woodard
It may have been against Division III competition in North Park, but almost an entirely new roster of Dawgs put together a nice showing on Tuesday night in front of their home fans.
The 106-71 victory was a balanced offensive attack, as all 13 Salukis who touched the floor got in the scoring column. Compared to last season’s team, there was a stark difference in ball movement and shot selection as Southern pushed the issue in the paint, tallying 66 points down low with 22 coming off of offensive rebounds.
Guard Elijah Elliott led the way in scoring, putting up 21with four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block. He was the main Dawg to put up shots from beyond the arc, shooting 5-7 from downtown. Returners Kennard Davis and Jarrett Hensley added 13 points while Ali Dibba and Rolyns Aligbe also got into double figures with 10 each. SIU shot 63% from the floor (41-65) and 50% from three-point range (7-14).
They also had 20 turnovers compared to 29 assists, which is something new head coach Scott Nagy referenced to cleaning up going forward. But Nagy’s motion offense, compared to the heliocentric playstyle by the 2023 Salukis, was a complete 180 for Southern fans who watched on.
They will begin the season on Monday, November 4 at 11 am when they travel for the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase. The Dawgs will face the College of Charleston in Sioux Falls, SD before returning home next Friday.
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