It was tough sledding from the opening tip.

The Billikens were burried early in their matchup against Southern Illinois Universtity-Carbondale Dec. 2, as SIUC opened the game on an 11-2 run within the first nine minutes of the game. The game finished 64-48 in favor of SIUC and marked the third straight loss for the Billikens.

Saint Louis University was kept off the scoreboard for about six minutes until senior guard Tommie Liddell III scored a 2-point basket with 14:20 remaining in the first half. The defensive play of SIUC in the first half keyed the Saluki’s success as the Billikens shot only 5-for-22 (22.7 percent) in the game’s opening period.

SIUC head coach Chris Lowery said it was important to limit the scoring opportunities of Liddell and teammate Kevin Lisch, whose offensive efforts helped SLU defeat SIUC 56-51 last season. Liddell and Lisch finished with 12 and 13 points, respectively. However, they were the only SLU players to reach double-digits in scoring.

A shakeup in the SIUC starting line-up was crucial for the Salukis.

Freshman guards Ryan Hare and Torres Roundtree cracked the starting line-up for the Salukis and solid defensive effort followed. The win snapped the Salukis’ three-game losing streak.

Lowery said his team’s practices leading into the game turned around the defense’s recent struggles.

“It was their way for five games, now it’s going to be my way for the rest of the way,” Lowery said. “We were giving up 72 points a game and I let some things slip, but things were going to change.”

SIUC (3-3) had nine different players score in the game, led by sophomore forward Carlton Fay, who scored 17 points. It is the third time this season Fay has led the team in scoring. Freshman guard Kevin Dillard scored nine points off the bench and senior guard Bryan Mullins scored eight points to go along with five assists.

It was the first time Dillard came off the bench since the Salukis’ 80-73 win against the University of Massachusetts Nov. 12.

SIUC proved to be a better team throughout the stat sheet. The Salukis outscored the Billikens from the free-throw line (27-17), in the paint (22-8) and off the bench (30-9). It was the kind of all-around effort the team lacked in its recent losses.

After allowing at least 70 points in its previous four games, the SIUC defense played up to the standards in which the program has become known for. SLU (2-4) struggled shooting the ball against SIUC’s man-to-man defense. The Billikens shot 14-for-39 (35.9 percent) from the field and compounded its problems by shooting poorly from the 3-point line, making only three of its 16 attempts (18.8 percent).

Fay said the team’s defensive effort was good throughout the game, which helped the team pick up the win.

“Our offense is as important as our defense, and our defense was a lot better tonight,” he said. “That’s definitely something that’s real big for us: to shut them out, get the rebound and then get down court. We’ve got some ways to go, but we’re going to get a lot better.”

The team is starting to come around and play the kind of defense the program has come to expect, Lowery said.

Up next for the Billikens is a matchup with Savannah State. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday at Chaifetz Arena.

Additional reporting by Andrew Bush of The University News.