Tuesday, January 28
Valparaiso, IN
7 PM
Southern Illinois University
10-12,5-6MVC
79
at
75
Valparaiso
10-12,3-8MVC
1
2
F
Southern Ill.
29
50
79
Valparaiso
34
41
75
Recap | Salukis Rally Late for Road Win at Valparaiso, 79-75
01/28/2025 | 11:11:00 | Men's Basketball
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Trailing by eight points with just over four minutes left to play, Southern Illinois completed a 79-75 comeback on the road at Valparaiso Wednesday night. With the win, SIU picked up its fifth win in its last six games, improving to 10-12 overall and 5-6 in the MVC.
The Salukis closed the game hitting seven of their final nine field goals while holding the Beacons scoreless for over four minutes en route to the victory.
Postgame Presser with Scott Nagy
Five Salukis scored in double-figures in the win led by Kennard Davis Jr. who led SIU with 19, including an 11-for-11 mark at the free throw line. Jorge Moreno, Ali Dibba, Jarrett Hensley and Damien Mayo Jr. each scored 13 for the Salukis.
Moreno impacted the game from the moment he stepped on the court as he scored a career-high 13 points while going for five rebounds. Moreno finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and knocked in two clutch free throws late to pull the Dawgs to within two points with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.
It was Davis who put the Salukis in front 69-68 with a step-back triple with 1:54 left to play. All Wright tied the game after hitting one of his two free throws the next possession before Jarrett Hensley who put the Dawgs ahead for good on the next possession with a dunk.
Southern would close out the game at the charity stripe with Davis, Mayo, and Sheridan Sharp hitting free throws.
Davis scored 12 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes while Dibba put 11 points in during the second half after scoring just two in the first.
SIU opened the game with a 7-2 lead before Valpo was able to work back into the game and eventually take an 11-10 lead. Southern was aggressive going to the rim and drew three early fouls on Valpo. The Beacons would end up on the receiving end of seven SIU foul calls while only being whistled for one over the next seven minutes.
In a one-point game with under three minutes left in the first, Valpo reeled off a 7-0 run in just over a minute of game action. The Salukis would get right back into the game as Moreno scored six-straight points in the paint to make it a 30-28 game in favor of the home squad.
Valpo (10-12, 3-8 MVC) would head to the locker room with a 34-29 advantage at intermission. Hensley and Davis led the way for SIU in the first while Cooper Schwieger had nine for the Beacons.
Southern won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Valpo 40-27. Hensley led all players with nine rebounds to go with his 13 points. Mayo added seven boards while freshman Rolyns Aligbe had five rebounds in limited minutes.
SIU outscored the Beacons 46-26 in the paint. Southern finished the game shooting 50.9 percent (27-53) from the floor while Valpo was 41.9 percent (26-62) from the field. The Beacons knocked down 10 3-pointers in the loss while SIU was 3-for-14 from behind the arc.
Wright led Valpo with 22 points and four assists while Schwieger (13) and Tyler Schmidt (10) also scored in double-digits.
UP NEXT
SIU returns home to face Drake on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be a "White Out" and will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Tickets start at just $10 with no added fees this season and can be purchased at SIUSalukis.com/Tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS.
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.
The Salukis closed the game hitting seven of their final nine field goals while holding the Beacons scoreless for over four minutes en route to the victory.
Postgame Presser with Scott Nagy
Five Salukis scored in double-figures in the win led by Kennard Davis Jr. who led SIU with 19, including an 11-for-11 mark at the free throw line. Jorge Moreno, Ali Dibba, Jarrett Hensley and Damien Mayo Jr. each scored 13 for the Salukis.
Moreno impacted the game from the moment he stepped on the court as he scored a career-high 13 points while going for five rebounds. Moreno finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and knocked in two clutch free throws late to pull the Dawgs to within two points with just over two minutes remaining in regulation.
It was Davis who put the Salukis in front 69-68 with a step-back triple with 1:54 left to play. All Wright tied the game after hitting one of his two free throws the next possession before Jarrett Hensley who put the Dawgs ahead for good on the next possession with a dunk.
Southern would close out the game at the charity stripe with Davis, Mayo, and Sheridan Sharp hitting free throws.
Davis scored 12 of his 19 points in the final 20 minutes while Dibba put 11 points in during the second half after scoring just two in the first.
SIU opened the game with a 7-2 lead before Valpo was able to work back into the game and eventually take an 11-10 lead. Southern was aggressive going to the rim and drew three early fouls on Valpo. The Beacons would end up on the receiving end of seven SIU foul calls while only being whistled for one over the next seven minutes.
In a one-point game with under three minutes left in the first, Valpo reeled off a 7-0 run in just over a minute of game action. The Salukis would get right back into the game as Moreno scored six-straight points in the paint to make it a 30-28 game in favor of the home squad.
Valpo (10-12, 3-8 MVC) would head to the locker room with a 34-29 advantage at intermission. Hensley and Davis led the way for SIU in the first while Cooper Schwieger had nine for the Beacons.
Southern won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Valpo 40-27. Hensley led all players with nine rebounds to go with his 13 points. Mayo added seven boards while freshman Rolyns Aligbe had five rebounds in limited minutes.
SIU outscored the Beacons 46-26 in the paint. Southern finished the game shooting 50.9 percent (27-53) from the floor while Valpo was 41.9 percent (26-62) from the field. The Beacons knocked down 10 3-pointers in the loss while SIU was 3-for-14 from behind the arc.
Wright led Valpo with 22 points and four assists while Schwieger (13) and Tyler Schmidt (10) also scored in double-digits.
UP NEXT
SIU returns home to face Drake on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be a "White Out" and will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Tickets start at just $10 with no added fees this season and can be purchased at SIUSalukis.com/Tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS.
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.
Team Stats
SIU
VALPO
FG%
.509
.419
3FG%
.214
.345
FT%
.759
.722
RB
40
27
TO
14
6
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
11
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
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