Southern Illinois University
2-0,0-0MVC
UMKC
1-1,0-0Summit League
Salukis fire on all cylinders, score 101 points, top UMKC
11/08/2025 | 7:47:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois put on an offensive clinic in its second game of the season, erupting for 101 points in a dominant 101-78 win over Kansas City on Friday, Nov. 7, at Banterra Center. It marked the Salukis' first triple-digit scoring performance since 2023 and just their third since 2020.
It took a few extra shots down the stretch, but Damien's Mayo 3-pointer on the final shot of the game took the Dawgs over the century mark. More than just firing up the home fans, maximizing efficiency and point totals matters come March.
"Every possession counts," he said. "The (NCAA selection) committee looks at offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency. You never look to run up the score on anyone but you have to get players to understand every play matters."
SIU controlled the game from start to finish, outscoring the Roos 64-38 in the paint. The Salukis raced to a 48-point first half en route to a wire-to-wire statement win. They led by as many as 27 points and shot a blistering 65.6 percent from the field (40 of 61) and 39 percent from 3-point range.
Quel'Ron House led the way with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Rolyns Aligbe added 14 points and seven rebounds, hitting 5 of 6 shots in just 19 minutes. Davion Sykes notched 14 points of his own and added four rebounds. Prince Aligbe sparked the early surge with 12 points as SIU showcased its depth — 11 players scored, and the bench contributed 43 points.
"Every bucket that goes in puts a smile on my face, a smile on my teammates' faces," Sykes said. "Anybody at any given night can go off. When your name is called, you just have to be ready."
Southern Illinois dominated the glass, outrebounding Kansas City 40-24. Defensively, the Salukis forced 12 turnovers and turned them into 21 points. They also pushed the pace for 24 fast-break points. After trailing 15–8 early, SIU took the lead at 20-19 midway through the first half and never looked back.
UMKC was led by Karmello Branch with 18 points, while Jayson Petty added 14. The Roos shot just 40.6 percent from the field and struggled to contain SIU's relentless downhill attack and interior presence. In the second half, Kansas City managed only 37 percent shooting overall and 27 percent from beyond the arc.
Through two games, Coach Scott Nagy's squad has shown impressive depth and a knack for second-half dominance.
With the win, Southern Illinois improved to 2-0 on the season. The Salukis begin a five-game, four-stop road trip with a contest at 9 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, Nov. 12, against Nevada. The Dawgs return to Banterra Center on Saturday, Nov. 29, against Arkansas Little Rock. Tickets for that game are available here: Saluk.is/43XgPSU.
