Southern Illinois News

Southern to wrap-up first MVC roadtrip with Indiana State

Southern Illinois will look to start 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference for the third-straight season when the Salukis take on the Indiana State Sycamores on New Year's Eve. 

The Salukis and ISU will tip at Noon CST at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute as the Dawgs are riding high after a come-from-behind victory over Evansville on Thursday night. 

Southern scored 31 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 86-77 win over the Purple Aces. The win gives SIU 10-straight MVC opener victories, the longest streak in the conference. 

All-Time vs. Indiana State

• Wednesday will be the 48th meeting between Southern Illinois and Evansville. 

• The Sycamores lead the all-time series 27-20. 

• SIU won the last matchup 77-61 on March 11, 2022.

• Indiana State won the first matchup 54-40 on Jan. 25, 2001. 

• Southern has won nine in a row in Terre Haute against the Sycamores. 

Last time out

• Southern took down Evansville 86-77 in each team's MVC opener on Thursday. 

• Ashley Jones (23 points) led five Salukis in double figures. 

• In her first game as a Saluki, Shemera Williams finished with 12 points on 3-of-5 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line in her Saluki debut. She also pulled down five rebounds and drew seven fouls.

• Laniah Randle (16 points, 8 rebounds), Jaidynn Mason (12 points), Shemera Williams (12 points) and Tyranny Brown (10 points) also had double digits for the Dawgs. 

• Zoe Belcher was a stat-sheet stuffer for the Salukis as she played nearly 15 minutes off of the bench and had four points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks. 

• The Salukis were 27-of-51 (52.9%) from the field and 4-of-6 (66.7%) from long range. Southern went 28-of-38 (73.7%) from the free-throw line. 

Scouting Indiana State

•  The Sycamores are 5-5 this season and fell to Missouri State in their MVC opener on Thursday.  

• Indiana State has played Saint Louis (W, 64-62) and Chicago State (W, 68-43) with those being the only common opponents this season. 

• Del'Janae Williams (11.9 ppg) leads Indiana State in scoring this season while Mya Glanton leads the Sycamores on the boards with 4.9 rpg. Anna McKendree leads ISU with 3.5 apg.  

• Indiana State is 9th in the MVC in scoring at 64.8 ppg. 

MVC Openers

• After its win on Thursday, Southern Illinois has won its last 10 MVC openers, the longest streak in the Valley. 

• SIU's last loss in an MVC opener was Jan. 3, 2013 to former valley-member Creighton. 

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