Saturday, February 22
Carbondale, IL
6 PM
Southern Illinois University
12-17,7-11MVC
79
vs
83
Valparaiso
13-16,6-12MVC
1
2
F
Valparaiso
31
52
83
Southern Ill.
37
42
79
Photo by: Saluki Athletic Communications
Recap | Salukis Drop Home Game as Valpo Rallies in Second Half, 83-79
02/22/2025 | 9:12:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois basketball dropped its fourth consecutive game Saturday night as Valparaiso rallied back to defeat the Salukis 83-79 inside Banterra Center.
Five Salukis scored in double-digits led by Kennard Davis Jr. who had 21 points and six assists while Ali Dibba had 16 points and seven rebounds. Graduate forward Jarrett Hensley recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Postgame Press Conference
Southern Illinois (12-17, 7-11 MVC) was strong out of the gate, holding Valparaiso to 3-for-13 shooting from the field while starting the game on a 16-4 run to lead the Beacons. SIU would hold Valpo scoreless for nearly five minutes while extending its lead to 16 points with just under eight minutes remaining.
Valpo guard All Wright would get things going for the Beacons down the stretch as the freshman went on a 9-0 run of his own to pull VU back within striking distance. Wright would score 16 points in the first half to spearhead Valpo closing the gap to single digits going into the locker room trailing SIU 37-31.
One key to SIU's early success was their ability to force Valparaiso (13-16, 6-12 MVC) to turn the ball over. SIU would score 10 points off five Beacon miscues in the opening half but that would change in the second as VU turned the ball over just two times in the final 20 minutes.
Southern would extend its lead from intermission to 11 points at the midway point of the second half before Valpo strung together a 15-2 run to take a lead with just over three minutes left to play. Wright scored nine points during the stretch, but it was Justus McNair who would give Valpo its first lead since the opening tip with a 3-pointer at the 5:24 mark.
Frisco, Texas native Drew Steffe converted a three-point play with 2:35 left to cut the lead to five before Davion Sykes scored in the paint to make it 81-78, but Valpo would close the game out at the charity stripe where they finished 15-for-17.
SIU was consistent from the floor, shooting 50 percent in the first and 47.1 percent in the second but it was Valpo that went from shooting 32.5 percent to 53.3 percent in the second half of play.
Damien Mayo Jr. and Steffe also scored in double-digits for Southern with 11 points each.
Wright led all players with 29 points on 10-for-26 shooting. McNair added 14 and Cooper Schwieger had 12 for the Beacons.
UP NEXT
SIU will play its final home game of the season on Tuesday, February 25, when Illinois State comes to town. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with Senior Day activities taking place pregame.
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.
Five Salukis scored in double-digits led by Kennard Davis Jr. who had 21 points and six assists while Ali Dibba had 16 points and seven rebounds. Graduate forward Jarrett Hensley recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Postgame Press Conference
Southern Illinois (12-17, 7-11 MVC) was strong out of the gate, holding Valparaiso to 3-for-13 shooting from the field while starting the game on a 16-4 run to lead the Beacons. SIU would hold Valpo scoreless for nearly five minutes while extending its lead to 16 points with just under eight minutes remaining.
Valpo guard All Wright would get things going for the Beacons down the stretch as the freshman went on a 9-0 run of his own to pull VU back within striking distance. Wright would score 16 points in the first half to spearhead Valpo closing the gap to single digits going into the locker room trailing SIU 37-31.
One key to SIU's early success was their ability to force Valparaiso (13-16, 6-12 MVC) to turn the ball over. SIU would score 10 points off five Beacon miscues in the opening half but that would change in the second as VU turned the ball over just two times in the final 20 minutes.
Southern would extend its lead from intermission to 11 points at the midway point of the second half before Valpo strung together a 15-2 run to take a lead with just over three minutes left to play. Wright scored nine points during the stretch, but it was Justus McNair who would give Valpo its first lead since the opening tip with a 3-pointer at the 5:24 mark.
Frisco, Texas native Drew Steffe converted a three-point play with 2:35 left to cut the lead to five before Davion Sykes scored in the paint to make it 81-78, but Valpo would close the game out at the charity stripe where they finished 15-for-17.
SIU was consistent from the floor, shooting 50 percent in the first and 47.1 percent in the second but it was Valpo that went from shooting 32.5 percent to 53.3 percent in the second half of play.
Damien Mayo Jr. and Steffe also scored in double-digits for Southern with 11 points each.
Wright led all players with 29 points on 10-for-26 shooting. McNair added 14 and Cooper Schwieger had 12 for the Beacons.
UP NEXT
SIU will play its final home game of the season on Tuesday, February 25, when Illinois State comes to town. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with Senior Day activities taking place pregame.
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
VALPO
SIU
FG%
.414
.484
3FG%
.370
.474
FT%
.882
.625
RB
34
42
TO
7
13
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
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