Wednesday, February 12
Peoria, IL
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
12-14,7-8MVC
64
at
78
Bradley
20-6,11-4MVC
1
2
F
Southern Ill.
28
36
64
Bradley
35
43
78
Photo by: Clara Bush
Recap | Salukis Fall To Bradley On The Road Wednesday, 78-64
02/12/2025 | 9:26:00 | Men's Basketball
PEORIA, Ill. – Senior guard Ali Dibba led Southern Illinois basketball with 29 points, but it wasn't enough as the Salukis fell on the road to Bradley, 78-64, Wednesday night at Carver Arena.
Southern (12-14, 7-8 MVC) trailed by 21 points midway through the second half but fought back to cut the Bradley lead to just seven points at 69-62 with 3:30 left in the game before running out of gas.
Postgame Presser Conference
A slugfest early in Peoria, both the Salukis and Braves struggled to put anything in the basket with tight defense both ways. Eleven minutes into the first half freshman Drew Steffe knocked down a 3-pointer to put SIU ahead 14-12. The squads continued to trade baskets nearing the end of the period with SIU pushing ahead 22-18 after Davion Sykes worked the post for a turnaround basket.
Bradley (20-6, 11-4 MVC) shot their way out of a slump from the perimeter lightning fast as the Braves knocked down five straight 3-pointers during a 15-0 run. MVC Preseason Player of the Year Duke Deen knocked down three of the outside shots as Bradley took a 33-22 lead.
The Salukis were able to cut into the BU lead in the final 90 seconds scoring six of the final eight points of the half to go into the locker room trailing 35-28. Dibba scored four of Southern's points during the spurt en route to finishing with a team-high 15 first-half points.
SIU scored 16 of their 28 points in the paint over the first 20 minutes while Bradley had just eight paint points. On the perimeter, the Braves connected on eight shots from behind the arc in the first while SIU was 3-for-8 from deep.
Kennard Davis Jr. knocked down the first basket of the second half to pull SIU to within five, but Bradley would score the next nine points to extend their lead to 44-30 just three minutes into the period.
Trailing by 21 at 62-41, Southern Illinois would rally though over the next 10 minutes with a 21-7 run to cut the Bradley lead to 69-62 with just 3:30 left. The stretch was spearheaded by Dibba's eight points. Big man Jorge Moreno would add six points off the bench while Steffe accounted for four points.
That would be the closest that SIU would get in the remaining three minutes as Bradley scored seven of the next nine points to hold on for the win.
Bradley ended the game with 14 3-pointers while SIU went 7-for-16 from deep. Southern took 41 shot attempts inside the perimeter but shot just seven free throws (5-7) in the game.
Steffe joined Dibba in double-figures with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting, including two triples. Davis finished with eight points and two assists while Moreno had six.
Deen led the Braves with a team-high 25 points, including 7-for-12 shooting from behind the arc. The senior added four rebounds and three assists in the Bradley win. Darius Hannah and Christian Davis added 15 points apiece for BU. Davis scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
UP NEXT
The Salukis head home for an important matchup with Belmont on Saturday evening. Tip with the Bruins is set for 6 p.m. CT from Banterra Center. Get your tickets now at SIUSalukis.com/Tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS. Fans can enjoy no added fees on tickets all season long.
FUTURE SCHEDULE NOTE
SIU's game against Valparaiso on Saturday, February 22 has been set for a 6 p.m. CT tip. The game is also Southern's annual Blackout Cancer game. To learn more visit SalukisBlackOutCancer.com.
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.
Southern (12-14, 7-8 MVC) trailed by 21 points midway through the second half but fought back to cut the Bradley lead to just seven points at 69-62 with 3:30 left in the game before running out of gas.
Postgame Presser Conference
A slugfest early in Peoria, both the Salukis and Braves struggled to put anything in the basket with tight defense both ways. Eleven minutes into the first half freshman Drew Steffe knocked down a 3-pointer to put SIU ahead 14-12. The squads continued to trade baskets nearing the end of the period with SIU pushing ahead 22-18 after Davion Sykes worked the post for a turnaround basket.
Bradley (20-6, 11-4 MVC) shot their way out of a slump from the perimeter lightning fast as the Braves knocked down five straight 3-pointers during a 15-0 run. MVC Preseason Player of the Year Duke Deen knocked down three of the outside shots as Bradley took a 33-22 lead.
The Salukis were able to cut into the BU lead in the final 90 seconds scoring six of the final eight points of the half to go into the locker room trailing 35-28. Dibba scored four of Southern's points during the spurt en route to finishing with a team-high 15 first-half points.
SIU scored 16 of their 28 points in the paint over the first 20 minutes while Bradley had just eight paint points. On the perimeter, the Braves connected on eight shots from behind the arc in the first while SIU was 3-for-8 from deep.
Kennard Davis Jr. knocked down the first basket of the second half to pull SIU to within five, but Bradley would score the next nine points to extend their lead to 44-30 just three minutes into the period.
Trailing by 21 at 62-41, Southern Illinois would rally though over the next 10 minutes with a 21-7 run to cut the Bradley lead to 69-62 with just 3:30 left. The stretch was spearheaded by Dibba's eight points. Big man Jorge Moreno would add six points off the bench while Steffe accounted for four points.
That would be the closest that SIU would get in the remaining three minutes as Bradley scored seven of the next nine points to hold on for the win.
Bradley ended the game with 14 3-pointers while SIU went 7-for-16 from deep. Southern took 41 shot attempts inside the perimeter but shot just seven free throws (5-7) in the game.
Steffe joined Dibba in double-figures with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting, including two triples. Davis finished with eight points and two assists while Moreno had six.
Deen led the Braves with a team-high 25 points, including 7-for-12 shooting from behind the arc. The senior added four rebounds and three assists in the Bradley win. Darius Hannah and Christian Davis added 15 points apiece for BU. Davis scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
UP NEXT
The Salukis head home for an important matchup with Belmont on Saturday evening. Tip with the Bruins is set for 6 p.m. CT from Banterra Center. Get your tickets now at SIUSalukis.com/Tickets or by calling 877-SALUKIS. Fans can enjoy no added fees on tickets all season long.
FUTURE SCHEDULE NOTE
SIU's game against Valparaiso on Saturday, February 22 has been set for a 6 p.m. CT tip. The game is also Southern's annual Blackout Cancer game. To learn more visit SalukisBlackOutCancer.com.
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
BRAD
FG%
.456
.466
3FG%
.438
.519
FT%
.714
.833
RB
32
32
TO
11
7
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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