Carbondale, Ill. -- The Missouri Southern men's basketball team made 11 three pointers in the second half, but couldn't overcome a 16-2 second-half run by Southern Illinois as the Division I Salukis took out the visiting Lions in exhibition action tonight in Carbondale. 

JJ Cratit led the Lions (2-0) in scoring with 17 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and 3-5 from long range. He made 4-5 from the free-throw line and added two steals in 29 minutes of action. CJ Carr and Elyjah Clark both had 13 points as Clark led the Lions with seven rebounds. Parker Jennings scored nine points, all on three pointers, while Dexter Frisbie added four and Lawrence Brown and LJ Ross had three points each. 

The Salukis (1-2) were led by 19 points from Sean O'Brien as he added ten points for the double-double. Thik Bol had 10 poitns and 17 rebounds, while Armon Fletcher scored 14. 

The Salukis led 30-13 with two minutes left in the half before the Lions scored seven quick points, going into the locker room down 36-20 at the break. 

The Lions cut the Salukis lead to 11 twice in the second half, the latter coming after a three from Carr with 13:31 to go made the score 48-37. However, SIU went on a 30-8 run to open up a 36 point lead (78-42) and never looked back. 

Late three's by the Lions cut the lead and a three from Brown with 35 seconds left made the final tally 85-64. 

Southern shot 36 percent from the field in the game and 43 percent from long-range after shooting 65 percent from the three point line in the second half. The Lions went 11-17 from the three point line in the second half after going just 1-11 in the first half. 

Southern will be back in action this Saturday as the Lions play host to William Jewell. Tip off from Robert Corn Court inside the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center is slated for 3 pm.