Southern Illinois University
UMKC
Salukis battle UMKC in Charles Helleny Tipoff Classic; $6 tickets offered
11/06/2025 | 9:13:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Fresh off an 83-42 season-opening win over McKendree, the Salukis host the University of Missouri-Kansas City at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Banterra Center. The game is part of the Charles Helleny Tipoff Classic, which honors longtime Saluki fan and generous supporter Charles Helleny, namesake of the Banterra Center's Helleny Pavilion.
SIU is calling on fans to Pack the House for its first regular-season matchup against a Division I opponent. Bleacher seats are available for $6 with the promo code PTH at checkout.
Game Details
Date and Time: Friday, November 7, 2025 | 7 p.m. CST
Location: Banterra Center - Carbondale, Illinois
Opponent: UMKC Roos - Summit League
Live Stats: Follow along here
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: The Varsity Network or listen locally on 101.5 CIL-FM
Tickets: Buy now - Use promo code PTH for $6 bleacher tickets
Win Over McKendree
Quel'Ron House led a balanced scoring effort Monday with 18 points. Rolyns Aligbe added 11, while Jalen Haynes, Davion Sykes and Drew Steffe each scored eight. The Salukis rotated 12 players into the lineup. Carterville native Caden Hawkins played 10 minutes, hit a 3-pointer and recorded four assists.
SIU tallied 20 assists and committed just 12 turnovers. McKendree managed only seven assists and turned the ball over 19 times. The Salukis dominated the glass, outrebounding the Bearcats 50-33, and scored 44 points in the paint. SIU went to the free-throw line 24 times, converting 14.
Caleb Burton led McKendree with eight points.
Scouting UMKC
UMKC opened its season with an 80-74 win over Evangel (NAIA). Jayson Petty led the Roos with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. UMKC was picked sixth in the Summit League preseason poll and features 13 newcomers and two returners. Petty is the lone returning starter, while Kasheem Grady II, who appeared in 29 games last season, also returns.
In 2024–25, the Roos finished 13-20 overall and 4-12 in Summit League play. They were 9-5 at home and 2-12 on the road. Head coach Marvin Menzies, hired in 2022, was named Summit League Coach of the Year in 2023–24.
Road Trip Ahead
After two home games to start the season, SIU hits the road for five straight contests. The trip begins Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Nevada in Reno (9 p.m. CST), followed by a matchup against North Dakota State on Monday, Nov. 18, in Fargo (7 p.m. CST).
The Salukis then travel to Jacksonville, Florida, for the Jacksonville Classic, where they'll face Delaware on Sunday, Nov. 23 (2 p.m. CST), and UAB on Monday, Nov. 24 (12:30 p.m. CST). The road swing wraps up in Memphis on Wednesday, Nov. 26 (7 p.m. CST).
SIU returns home Saturday, Nov. 29, to host Arkansas-Little Rock at 6 p.m.
