SIU hosts Missouri State on Saturday night

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CARBONDALE, Ill. - SIU men's basketball's nine-game home court winning streak is on the line Saturday night. The Salukis host Missouri State, the preseason MVC favorites, for a 7 p.m. game at Banterra Center. The Bears are coming off a 20-point blowout win over Illinois State. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and there is a pregame concert in the Charles Helleny Pavillion by Diamond Dog, and the marking team will give away 250 Space Jam-themed "Saluki Jam" t-shirts for SIU students.

Mini-Plan » See all four remaining home games for only $40. Purchase tickets online at SIUSalukis.com/tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS during regular business hours.

SIU (14-10, 8-3 MVC) vs. Missouri State (11-13, 5-6 MVC)

Date and Time » 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, February 8 // Carbondale, Ill.
Tickets » SIUSalukis.com/tickets
Watch » ESPN3 with Connor Onion and Mike Trude
Listen » Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis and Greg Starrick
Live Stats » Sidearm Stats
Social Media » @SIU_Basketball
Game Notes » SIU (PDF) | Missouri State

OPENING TIP

The SIU men's basketball team hosts Missouri State at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Banterra Center.
- Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Diamond Dog will perform a pregame concert in the Charles Helleny Pavillion.
- The game's theme is "Saluki Jam," based on Space Jam. The first 250 SIU students will receive a Saluki Jam t-shirt.
- For the final four home games, SIU is offering a special ticket package: tickets to all four remaining home games for only $40.
SIU has won six-straight MVC games, the longest active winning streak in the MVC and the program's longest league winning streak since 2006-07.
SIU has won nine-straight home games at Banterra Center. The Salukis are looking for the program's first 10-game home court winning streak since 2006-07 (15 straight).
SIU is 8-3 in the MVC, the program's best MVC start through 11 games since 2006-07 (also 8-3).
SIU ranks 13th nationally (of 353) in scoring defense, allowing just 60.8 points per game. SIU also ranks top-50 nationally in fewest fouls per game (16th) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (36th). KenPom ranks SIU No. 2 in the MVC in adjusted defensive efficiency, behind Loyola.
SIU freshman Marcus Domask scored 28 points in SIU's win at Drake, the most by any MVC freshman in a conference game since Milton Doyle (Loyola) scored 28 vs. UNI in 2014.
Eric McGill was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday. McGill averaged 23 points (on 67% shooting), 5.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals in wins over Loyola and Drake. McGill scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting in SIU's 68-63 win over Loyola.
Barret Benson during the 6-game streak: 13.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, two double-doubles, 49% FG, 50% 3FG, 77% FT.
Domask leads all MVC freshmen in points and assists. He ranks second in rebounds, third in steals and fifth in blocks.

DAWG BITES

Missouri State won last year in Springfield to snap SIU's nine-game winning streak in the series, which was the longest streak for either program in the 87 games between the schools.
Each of the last eight games in the series has been decided by eight points or fewer, with two of those games going to overtime.
SIU senior guard Eric McGill was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday. McGill averaged 23 points on 67% shooting in two wins last week.
During SIU's five-game winning streak...
- McGill, Marcus Domask, Barret Benson and Lance Jones are combining for 56.5 points per game.
- Those four are shooting a combined 47% from the 3-point line while making 6.3 3-pointers per game.