Southern Illinois University
Belmont
SIU in Need of a Bounce Back Against Belmont
01/16/2026 | 1:32:00 | Men's Basketball
The Salukis (8-10, 2-5 MVC) take on the Bruins (16-3, 6-2 MVC) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Ill.
Game Details
Matchup: SIU vs. BelmontÂ
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Banterra Center, Carbondale, Ill.
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LOOKING AT BELMONT
The Bruins have won three in a row in MVC play, and come into the day 16-3 overall after defeating Valparaiso 78-74 on Tuesday night. That followed a ferocious 25-point comeback against Drake on Saturday, Jan. 10. The Bulldogs led by 19 at the half, but were outscored 53-32 in the second half by the Bruins.
In the first meeting with the Salukis, SIU's Quel'Ron House made a go-ahead floater at the buzzer to defeat Belmont in Nashville. In the teams' brief playing history, SIU leads the series 4-3.
Tyler Lundblade leads the Bruins, scoring 16.0 points per game, fourth in the MVC. He leads The Valley and is tied for third in the nation with 3.7 three-pointers per game.
They average 83.11 points per game as a team, 76th nationally and second in The Valley.
Defensively, the Bruins allow 69.95 points per game, 91st in the NCAA and third in The Valley.
The Bruins lead the MVC in several categories, including scoring margin (+13.16), field goal percentage (51.3%), field goal percentage defense (38.5%), three-point percentage (39.4%), and assists per game (18.0).
Belmont ranks No. 61 in the latest NET ratings and No. 64 in KenPom.
THE DAWGS
Eight Salukis average more than 16 minutes per game. Quel'Ron House leads the team with 13.7 points per game. Seven others average seven or more points, including Damien Mayo Jr. (9.1), Rolyns Aligbe (9.0), Drew Steffe (8.9), Prince Aligbe (8.3), Davion Sykes (7.6), Jalen Haynes (7.5) and Isaiah Stafford (7.3).
Sophomore Max Pikaar has recorded a block in six of seven MVC games and leads the team with 16 on the season.
SIU shot 41% (21-for-51) from three during a three-game win streak late in non-conference play. (Little Rock, High Point, UT Martin)
Southern is shooting 47.1 percent from the field, which is tied for 99th in the nation. They do most of their work inside the arc, making only 4.7 3-pointers per game, which is bottom five in the country.
Freshman Jaylen Haynes has been a bright spot off the bench this season, scoring in double figures in six contests. He had a season-high 13 in the 68-67 win at Belmont on Jan. 4.
SIU has been good on the boards, holding a +2.9 rebounds per game margin on the season. They are in the top 66 overall, averaging 38.9 rebounds per game. The Dawgs split up the work pretty evenly, with Rolyns Aligbe leading the way with 6.4 boards per game. Aligbe has two double-doubles on the season, with his second coming last time out against Drake when he had 11 points and 11 rebounds. He tallied a career-high 12 rebounds in SIU's win over Valparaiso on Jan. 1.
SIU landed at No. 138 in the most recent NET ratings, sixth in the MVC.
LAST TIME OUT
Southern Illinois lost 76-73 in overtime to Drake on Jan. 14. Rolyns Aligbe had 11 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double on the season, while Quel'Ron House had seven steals, the fifth-most in a single game in program history. Damien Mayo Jr. led the Salukis with 19 points.
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.
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