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Saint Mary's visits Southern Illinois

Dec 11, 2007 - 2:43 PM No. 24 Saint Mary's Ca (7-0) at Southern Illinois (3-3) 8:05 pm EST

CARBONDALE, Illinois (Ticker) - Off to its best start since the 1988-89 season, No. 24 Saint Mary's will have one of its toughest road tests of the season when it takes on Southern Illinois on Tuesday.

The Gaels, who started 9-0 when they were last ranked 18 years ago, won their first six games at home - including a 99-87 win over then-No. 11 Oregon on November 20.

Saint Mary's defeated San Diego State, 69-64, on a neutral court in Anaheim on Saturday but the Gaels will have their hands full at the SIU Arena where the Salukis are 80-4 since the start of the 2001-02 season.

Saint Mary's freshman point guard Patrick Mills is averaging 16.1 points and 4.4 assists, leading the team in both categories. The Australian native is helped out in the frontcourt by Omar Samhan and Diamon Simpson, who are averaging 13.9 and 13.0 points, respectively.

Southern Illinois, which was ranked as high as 18th on November 25, has lost three straight games.

The Salukis have scored just 50.7 points per game during their skid, including a 71-56 setback to Charlotte on Saturday.

Randal Falker is averaging 13.3 points and 6.5 rebounds to lead the Salukis, who lead the all-time series 4-1. The Salukis posted a 66-61 win at Saint Mary's last season.