Preview | Salukis Welcome Evansville for Saluki Bash to Ring in 2025 on Wednesday

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois basketball resumes Missouri Valley Conference play Wednesday as Evansville comes to Carbondale for the third annual New Year's Saluki Bash. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT from Banterra Center.

PROMOTIONS

Tickets start at $4 with no added fees when you purchase online at SIUSalukis.com/Promo
- $4 Reserved Section 113 (promo code "FOUR")
- $5 Reserved 200-level best available (promo code "FIVE")
- $6 Reserved 200-level best available (promo code "SIX")
- Half-price chair-back tickets (promo code "FIFTY")
The largest balloon drop in Southern Illinois history at halftime
Halftime performance by Snow Power Gymnastics & Dance
Champagne Flute, Cranberry Mimosa, Champagne Punch, Party Starter for $6

ESPN+ Broadcast | Radio Broadcast | Live Stats | SIU Game Notes | Live Updates on X

HOW TO FOLLOW

The ESPN Plus broadcast team is Mike Trude and Saluki Hall of Famer Jamaal Tatum.
The radio broadcast can be heard locally on 101.5 CIL-FM, on the Saluki Radio Network, SIUSalukis.com/Listen, the Saluki Mobile App, and the Varsity Network App with Luke Martin and Rodney Watson calling the action.
Fans can follow Live Stats at SIUSalukis.com.

QUICK HITS

Ali Dibba has scored 10 or more points in all but one game this season. The senior guard scored a career-high 27 against High Point after scoring 26 points against Eastern Kentucky with 24 of the 26 points in the second half. He leads the team with 15.4 points per game.
Kennard Davis Jr. is second on the team with 13.8 points per game to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Davis ranks third in the MVC (behind Drake's Bennett Stirtz and UIC's Javon Jackson) in steals per game this season. Davis Jr. averages 2.04 steals per game.
Jarrett Hensley is coming off a career-high 20 point outing on the road at Northern Iowa. The senior is averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. In two MVC games, Hensley leads the team with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Jarrett Hensley recorded back-to-back doubles doubles for the Salukis against Bradley and Southern Indiana -- the first double-doubles of his career. Hensley had 12 points and 12 rebounds against Bradley while going for 16 points and 11 rebounds against Southern Indiana.
SIU ranks third in the MVC with 36.85 rebounds per game. The Salukis have done damage on the offensive glass as they rank fourth in the league with 11.15 caroms on the offensive end this season.
SIU is averaging 11.08 fastbreak points per game this season to rank fourth in the MVC.

ALIGBE NAMED MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

Forward Rolyns Aligbe was named the MVC Freshman of the Week following his game at UNI. Aligbe, a Minneapolis, Minnesota native, made his first career start for the Salukis on the road at Northern Iowa Sunday. He scored seven points and recorded a team-high eight rebounds for Southern in the loss.
The big man averages 4.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14 minutes of action per game this season. He has recorded five or more points in six games and had a season-high 10 rebounds on the road at Florida.

LOOKING AT EVANSVILLE

Evansville was picked to finish ninth in the MVC Preseason Poll. The Aces come into action at 4-9 overall and 1-1 in MVC play following a win over Missouri State at home.
As a team, UE is scoring 64.9 points per outing and is led by Gabriel Pozzato's 15.4 points per game. Cameron Haffner is second on the team with 12.8 points per game.
The Aces lead the MVC with 4.4 blocked shots per game and are fourth in the League in field goal defense at 43.4 percent.

SERIES HISTORY WITH THE ACES

Southern Illinois leads the series with the Purple Aces 79-58 and has won nine of the last 10 including five-straight games.
Southern is 47-18 at home against UE, 23-28 on the road, and 2-3 on a neutral floor.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by visiting SIUSalukis.com as well as following the team on X at @SIU_Basketball, Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and Facebook at Facebook.com/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store.

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