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Southern Illinois aims for third straight win

Nov 23, 2007 - 2:25 PM Mississippi St (3-1) at No. 18 Southern Illinois (2-0) 3:00 pm EST

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Randal Falker and 18th-ranked Southern Illinois will put their suffocating defense on display Friday against Mississippi State in the semifinals of the inaugural Anaheim Classic Tournament.

Falker scored 21 points and the Salukis forced 26 turnovers in a 63-41 first-round win over Tennessee-Chattanooga on Thursday.

Southern Illinois has long been renowned for its physical play, and on Thursday it relied on the inside game of Falker and its trademark defense.

The defense held the Mocs to just 29 percent (11-of-27) from the floor, and Falker hit a career-high 11-of-14 free throws to help Southern Illinois to its second straight win.

That defensive performance came on the heels of a 20-point win over Northern Illinois in which the Salukis held the Huskies to just 34 percent (21-of-61).

The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals with a 68-53 win over UC-Irvine on Thursday.

Barry Stewart scored 18 points and Charles Rhodes added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Mississippi State, which had four players score in double figures.