Southern Illinois stole last year's meeting in Carbondale with a 3-point prayer at the buzzer.
Missouri State's Nathan Bilyeu recalls his last visit to SIU Arena as if it happened last week, not last year.
The Bears had Southern Illinois beat. One-point lead, final seconds ticking away, SIU going nowhere with the ball 28 feet from the basket.
Then Southern Illinois' Josh Warren launched a prayer that was answered. A banked-in, 3-pointer ? Warren's first 3 of his season ? to leave Missouri State's players in disbelief.
"I had lot of anger and a lot of hurt," Bilyeu said Monday, recalling the team's emotions following the 61-60 loss.
As for the return trip tonight, Bilyeu figures the basketball gods ought to be on the Bears' side.
"I don't know, but I think they have one coming," Bilyeu said of the Salukis. "I think it's our turn this year."
The Bears have more than bad memories to stir them. A victory means a fourth-place tie with SIU in the Missouri Valley Conference standings and an opportunity to stay in the league race.
Fourth or higher is going to mean a legitimate chance for an NCAA Tournament bid. That seemed a long shot not so long ago for the Bears, but a three-game winning streak has set them up for a big road trip that continues Saturday at 25th-ranked Northern Iowa.
"We're coming to play SIU and that's all we're thinking about," Bears coach Barry Hinson said. "We aren't talking about what-ifs, could-bes or any of that stuff.
"We do have a great opportunity in front of us, playing two games in a row in which we will not be favored. We're not viewing it like there's pressure on us."
Whether the Bears are catching the Salukis at a good or bad time is anyone's guess. SIU has lost two in a row, including a double-overtime road defeat at Wichita State after last-place Indiana State ended its 33-game home-court win streak.
Missouri State guard Blake Ahearn figures the Salukis will be focused.
"We're going into a place that's tough to play against a team that isn't used to losing," Ahearn said. "They're going to give us everything we can handle.
"We have to come in with the right intensity and the right mind-set."
For a third straight game, the Bears are without starting center Drew Richards, who continues to battle post-concussion problems. Richards practiced with the team Monday morning, but shortly afterward had a headache and dizziness.
"Until we get the complete thumbs-up medically, he's not going to play," Hinson said. "We're not going to take any chances."
Sky Frazier played big in Richards' absence on Saturday, getting a career-best 12 rebounds against a big, physical Bradley front line. Guards Tyler Chaney, Blake Ahearn and Shane Laurie combined for 18 rebounds as the Bears dominated that category.
Bilyeu said it will take a similar team approach against the athletic, physical Salukis. That's especially true when the Bears play zone defense.
"Most of the weakness of a zone is rebounding," Bilyeu said. "When the guards rebound like they did last game, it helps a lot.
"If we can keep everybody playing defense and rebounding like we did against Bradley, then we have a good future ahead of us."
And perhaps a better memory at SIU Arena, where Missouri State has not won since 2000.
"Whenever you are able to get a win at someone else's place, it's definitely fun," Bilyeu said. "That's what we're looking for."
Missouri State's Nathan Bilyeu recalls his last visit to SIU Arena as if it happened last week, not last year.
The Bears had Southern Illinois beat. One-point lead, final seconds ticking away, SIU going nowhere with the ball 28 feet from the basket.
Then Southern Illinois' Josh Warren launched a prayer that was answered. A banked-in, 3-pointer ? Warren's first 3 of his season ? to leave Missouri State's players in disbelief.
"I had lot of anger and a lot of hurt," Bilyeu said Monday, recalling the team's emotions following the 61-60 loss.
As for the return trip tonight, Bilyeu figures the basketball gods ought to be on the Bears' side.
"I don't know, but I think they have one coming," Bilyeu said of the Salukis. "I think it's our turn this year."
The Bears have more than bad memories to stir them. A victory means a fourth-place tie with SIU in the Missouri Valley Conference standings and an opportunity to stay in the league race.
Fourth or higher is going to mean a legitimate chance for an NCAA Tournament bid. That seemed a long shot not so long ago for the Bears, but a three-game winning streak has set them up for a big road trip that continues Saturday at 25th-ranked Northern Iowa.
"We're coming to play SIU and that's all we're thinking about," Bears coach Barry Hinson said. "We aren't talking about what-ifs, could-bes or any of that stuff.
"We do have a great opportunity in front of us, playing two games in a row in which we will not be favored. We're not viewing it like there's pressure on us."
Whether the Bears are catching the Salukis at a good or bad time is anyone's guess. SIU has lost two in a row, including a double-overtime road defeat at Wichita State after last-place Indiana State ended its 33-game home-court win streak.
Missouri State guard Blake Ahearn figures the Salukis will be focused.
"We're going into a place that's tough to play against a team that isn't used to losing," Ahearn said. "They're going to give us everything we can handle.
"We have to come in with the right intensity and the right mind-set."
For a third straight game, the Bears are without starting center Drew Richards, who continues to battle post-concussion problems. Richards practiced with the team Monday morning, but shortly afterward had a headache and dizziness.
"Until we get the complete thumbs-up medically, he's not going to play," Hinson said. "We're not going to take any chances."
Sky Frazier played big in Richards' absence on Saturday, getting a career-best 12 rebounds against a big, physical Bradley front line. Guards Tyler Chaney, Blake Ahearn and Shane Laurie combined for 18 rebounds as the Bears dominated that category.
Bilyeu said it will take a similar team approach against the athletic, physical Salukis. That's especially true when the Bears play zone defense.
"Most of the weakness of a zone is rebounding," Bilyeu said. "When the guards rebound like they did last game, it helps a lot.
"If we can keep everybody playing defense and rebounding like we did against Bradley, then we have a good future ahead of us."
And perhaps a better memory at SIU Arena, where Missouri State has not won since 2000.
"Whenever you are able to get a win at someone else's place, it's definitely fun," Bilyeu said. "That's what we're looking for."
