• Preview
• Bleachers

No. 16 Wichita St hopes to snap three-game skid

Jan 1, 2007 - 3:02 PM No. 16 Wichita St (9-3) at Southern Illinois (10-2) 8:05 pm EST

CARBONDALE, Illinois (Ticker) -- After a terrific start to the campaign, Wichita State suddenly has found shooting and scoring to be difficult chores.

The 16th-ranked Shockers hope to end their three-game losing streak and post their first win at Southern Illinois in nine tries when they teams meet Monday in a Missouri Valley Conference contest.

Wichita State won its first nine games to equal the best start in school history before losing to New Mexico at the Las Vegas Classic. Since then, the Shockers have shot just 37 percent (41-of-110) and failed to score 60 points in losses to Southern California and Northern Iowa.

Kyle Wilson scored 18 points and Matt Braeuer added 10 for Wichita State, which lost its conference opener in Saturday's 63-59 defeat to Northern Iowa.

The Shockers may continue to have problems against Southern Illinois, which has won 70 of its last 73 home games and ranks among the nation's leaders in scoring defense (53.5).

Matt Shaw and Jamaal Tatum scored 16 points apiece and Randal Falker added 10 with a career-high 17 rebounds to lead the Salukis in Friday's 68-49 triumph over Illinois State.

Southern Illinois has won 13 of the last 16 encounters against Wichita State.