Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Men's Basketball	SIUE Men's Basketball SIUE Athletics

Mike Hardiek

January 8, 2007 SIUE Focuses on USI, KWC          EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. -- Coming off two Great Lakes Valley Conference road wins, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's basketball team continues conference play beginning Thursday against perennial powerhouses Southern Indiana and Kentucky Wesleyan.          SIUE, 9-4 overall and 5-1 in the GLVC, has a busy week planned with No. 5-ranked Southern Indiana at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday at 3 p.m.          "I am real happy with the guys; they really stepped up the last few games," said SIUE men's basketball coach Marty Simmons.          "J.B. Jones (Belleville) was a big boost for us in the second half against UMSL with 17 points, with 12 of those points in the second half, along with four rebounds and three steals," he added.          Mike Hardiek (Teutopolis) also had a big game with 22 points and eight rebounds along with Nick Arth (Edwardsville) who broke into double figures with 14 points. Doug Taylor (McClure) stepped up for the Cougars with seven rebounds and six points, noted Simmons.          SIUE also had a big 60-43 win against Missouri-Rolla earlier in the week. The Cougars were lead by Hardiek's 19 points and Taylor's 10 points and nine rebounds in the win.          "You have to play good basketball to win in the conference. It doesn't matter if you are home or away," said Simmons.          Next up for the Cougars is a Southern Indiana club that is off to another fast start at 15-1 overall.          "They have a heck of a team with a lot of weapons. They have great perimeter players, great inside players and are great in transition," said Simmons.          After USI, the Cougars with play Kentucky Wesleyan, the same team that beat the Cougars by one point in overtime at the Owensboro Sportscenter earlier in the season.          "They are a very balanced team, and Fahnbulleh hurt us inside last time which is something we will need to focus on," said Simmons.                   -siue cougars-