CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Earlier in the day, some 1,000 students were scattered about SIU Arena, taking a final exam.
Later Tuesday night, the Salukis of Southern Illinois were hoping to have just one answer -- how to end the first three-game losing streak in Chris Lowery's three-plus years as head coach.

Not that the Salukis have been terrible of the past three games, losing to USC and UNC-Charlotte on the road and at home to Indiana.

Meanwhile, the Gaels of Saint Mary's look to keep their record spotless. This is the Gaels' first road game of the season, although they have posted a win on a neutral court. The other six have come at home.

For SIU, it seems a different ingredient has been missing in each of the three losses. Against USC, the defense didn't show up. Against Indiana, the offense couldn't find the hole.

And against Charlotte, the Salukis' all-everything, Randall Falker, was held scoreless for the first time since his freshman season.

The teams have met five previous times, with SIU holding a 4-1 edge. The Salukis won, 66-61, at Moraga, Calif., last year.