Six Southern Illinois University Edwardsville players scored in double figures Sunday afternoon to lead the Cougars to a 102-78 win over Robert Morris-Springfield in men’s basketball at the Vadalabene Center.
Michael Messer / Photo by SIUE Sports Information
SIUE improved to 3-10 with the win. Robert Morris fell to 7-6.
Maurice Wiltz and Michael Messer each scored 20 points to lead the Cougars. Wiltz was 7 of 12 from the field and connected
on 5 of 9 3-point attempts. The 20 points establishes a new career high for Wiltz. The 20-point effort is the second of Messer’s career. He finished 7 for 10 from the field and 2 for 2 from three-point range.
Kris Davis added a season-high 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting. He was 3 for 4 from long range.
Donivine Stewart finished with 12 points and a game-high nine assists. Keaton Jacksonscored 11 points, and Christian Salecich chipped in 10 points.
The Cougars connected on a season-high 65.6 percent (40-61) of their shots and were 15 of 23 (65.2 percent) from beyond the arc, one shy of the school record for 3-pointers in a game. SIUE tied its season high with 24 assists. The Cougars also collected 24 against Central Arkansas.
“We had some guys shoot the ball well,” SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester said. “Kris Davis knocked down some three’s and got a rhythm going. I thought our guys did a good job of sharing the ball offensively, which led to some easy baskets.”
SIUE overwhelmed Robert Morris with its depth, outscoring the Eagles 60-10 off the bench. The Eagles primarily used six players, subbing in three players in the final minute of play.
“I thought we had some guys who came off the bench and gave us some good energy today,” Forrester added.
Robert Calmese led Robert Morris with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds. Reid David scored 20 points for the Eagles. David was 5 for 8 from 3-point range. Will Brooks scored 10 points. As a team, the Eagles were 28-53 (52.8 percent) from the field, and 8 for 12 (66.7 percent) from three-point range.
“Our defense has to continue to get better if we want to win games,” Forrester said. “We struggled to keep guys in front of us, and we have to figure out ways to get that done.”
The Cougars open Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday at home against Morehead State.
“Now it’s for real,” Forrester said. “We open up OVC play with two games at home, and we have to take both of them. We know what we need to work on, and we’re going to continue working on those things.”
