CARBONDALE - Starting posts Anthony Booker and Nick Evans didn't even have to take a lot of shots to make an impact in Southern Illinois University's season opener Saturday.

The two sophomores combined for more rebounds (eight) than points (two) in the opening half against Tennessee-Martin, but drew enough attention to open it up for the Salukis' guards at SIU Arena. Kevin Dillard and Tony Freeman scored 10 apiece in the first half, finished with 24, and led five Salukis in double figures as SIU's men's basketball season opened with a 91-63 victory.

SIU made 12-of-25 3-pointers and 50 percent from the field to win its 11th straight season opener. Saluki coach Chris Lowery didn't see the inside-outside balance he wanted in the first half, but got enough outside shooting to take control of the game.

"We didn't do a good job of getting the ball inside in the first half. Nick had two and seven at the break, and I don't know if Book even scored," SIU coach Chris Lowery said. "We didn't do a good job of going through him or Eugene (Teague). Either of our three biggest guys, we didn't do a good enough job getting them the ball, but you look at Kevin, Justin (Bocot) and Free, it's 27 points from them in that first half, and then John Freeman got seven off the bench."

Tennessee-Martin scored the first bucket of the night in front of 5,788 fans, but saw the Salukis run off 11 straight in less than five minutes. Two of Kevin Dillard's 14 points tied the game. Back-to-back triples from SIU's sophomore point guard pushed the lead to 8-2. Bocot's only 3-pointer of the night then capped the run with 15:32 to play in the first half.

SIU hit 7-of-15 from behind the arc in the opening half and pushed the Skyhawks into a 1-for-9 effort at the other end. UTM, in coach Jason James' first official game as head coach, finished 3-of-16 from 3-point range.

"They were moving without the ball very well," James said. "Our guys weren't doing a very good job of following cutters. Those are players that are good enough when they get their feet set, they can make shots, and anybody at this level, if you get a chance to shoot wide-open 3s, you're going to make ‘em most times, and our guys were giving those up."

Junior forward Carlton Fay, in his first action of the season after serving a two-game suspension, got into the act shortly after entering at the 16:30 mark. Fay hit his first shot of the night, a 3-pointer at the 14:49 mark, that gave the Salukis their first double-digit lead. Fay finished 6-of-7 off the bench with five rebounds and a game-high 18 points.

Booker and Tony Freeman finished with 10 points apiece. True freshman Kendal Brown-Surles added 12 off the bench with five assists and one turnover in 20 minutes. Bocot had nine points but a team-high five turnovers.

Walk-ons Nate Mitchell, Caleb Long and Aaron Moise entered the game in the final three minutes.

Reuben Clayton, who had 33 points in the Skyhawks' exhibition win over Rhodes College, led UTM with 16. Benzor Simmons added 14 for the Skyhawks, who fell to 0-6 against SIU.

"Tonight, they showed why they have a chance to be a very good basketball team," James said. "They were very physical with us, especially on the defensive end, and that's the way you have to play to be good."

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5087

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