SIU faces road test at Valpo

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Dec 10

7 PM

Men's Basketball

UT Martin

Carbondale, IL

Dec 13

5 PM (CST)

Men's Basketball

University of Richmond

Richmond, VA

Dec 18

8:00 PM

Men's Basketball

Illinois State University

Carbondale, IL

Dec 21

TBD

Men's Basketball

Bradley University

Peoria, IL

Dec 29

TBD

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Murray State

Murray, KY

Jan 1

2:00 PM

Men's Basketball

Valparaiso University

Carbondale, IL

Jan 4

4:00 PM

Men's Basketball

Belmont University

Nashville, TN

Jan 7

TBD

Men's Basketball

UIC

Chicago, IL

With just four games left in the regular season, the Southern Illinois men's basketball program visits Valparaiso for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday. The Salukis are trying to avenge a 65-61 loss earlier in the year to the Crusaders.

Southern Illinois (14-13, 7-7 MVC) at Valpo (13-14, 6-8 MVC) || Wednesday, February 20 || 7 p.m. || Valparaiso, Ind. (ARC)

TV » ESPN+
Listen » Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis and Connor Onion (Stream available through TuneIn)
Stats » Via Valpo
Game Notes » Southern Illinois (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN

Southern Illinois travels to Valparaiso for a 7 p.m. tip at ARC on Wednesday.
SIU has five players averaging double-figures: Armon Fletcher (15.0 ppg), Kavion Pippen (12.7), Aaron Cook (11.0), Sean Lloyd (10.9) and Eric McGill (10.0).
The last time SIU had five players average double-figures for a season was 1993-94: Paul Lusk, Marcus Timmons, Chris Carr, Mirko Pavlovic, and Chris Lowery.
SIU cruised to a 79-57 win at Indiana State, the largest margin of victory for SIU in an MVC game since Jan. 11, 2006 vs. Evansville (W, 66-38). It was the largest margin in a road MVC game since Feb. 1, 2003, at Wichita State (W, 94-59).
Salukis in the MVC individual rankings (all games)...
- 1st - Kavion Pippen in blocks (1.8)
- 2nd - Eric McGill in steals (1.7)
- 3rd - Aaron Cook in steals (1.4)
- 3rd - Aaron Cook in assists (3.8)
Salukis in the MVC team rankings (all games)...
- 1st in 3-point FG% (.381)
- 2nd in FG% defense (.426)
- 2nd in blocked shots (4.0)
- 2nd in assists (14.3)
- 2nd in steals (6.9)
- 2nd in offensive rebounds (9.2)
- 3rd in FG% (.467)

GAME PREVIEW

Southern Illinois travels to Valparaiso for a 7 p.m. tip at ARC on Wednesday.
The first game: Valpo closed the first half on a 22-8 run to take a 7-point lead at halftime. SIU got as close as 2 late in the second half but never led after that. Valpo played without Ryan Fazekas but shot 48 percent from the field. Derrik Smits had 16 points to lead Valpo; Kavion Pippen had 23 to lead SIU.
Valpo leads the all-time series 4-3. The Crusaders and Salukis split the season series last year, Valpo's first in the MVC.
Valparaiso is led by Derrik Smits (12.6 ppg), Ryan Fazekas (12.5 ppg) and Javon Freeman (11.1 ppg) in double-figures. Former Saluki Deion Lavender is averaging 4.1 assists per game, which is second in the MVC. Freeman's 1.89 steals per game lead the MVC; he is the only MVC player averaging more steals this year than SIU guard Eric McGIll.
With a win, SIU would...
- Split the season series with Valpo for a second-straight season.
- Win at Valpo for the first time since 1980
- Win an MVC-best seventh true road game

TRENDING DAWGS

SIU has won four of its last six games after dropping five of six early in MVC play.
While dropping five of six...
- Scored 60.5 ppg on 42.4 percent shooting
- Allowed 66.7 ppg on 45.8 percent shooting
- Only Armon Fletcher (13.3 ppg) averaged double-figures.
Last five games (winning three)...
- Scoring 74.2 ppg on 49.7 percent shooting
- Four players averaging double-figures: Kavion Pippen (19.0), Armon Fletcher (18.2), Sean Lloyd (12.3) and Aaron Cook (11.0).