Southern Illinois University
Valparaiso
Salukis Travel to Valpo for Wednesday Night Showdown
01/20/2026 | 5:15:00 | Men's Basketball
The Salukis (8-11, 2-6 MVC) take on the Beacons (9-10, 3-5 MVC) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind.
Game Details
Matchup: SIU at Valparaiso
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso, Ind.
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SCOUTING THE BEACONS
After starting 0-3 in MVC play, the Beacons have won three of their last five, including a 54-44 victory over UNI on Jan. 17.
Owen Dease has been filling it up in Missouri Valley Conference play. Starting the season coming off the bench, Dease has started the last six games and has scored 20 or more in five of eight MVC contests. He is averaging 14.4 points per game on the season, sixth in the MVC. He had 26 points against the Salukis on Jan. 1.
They average 70.95 points per game as a team, 304th nationally and ninth in The Valley.
Defensively, the Beacons allow 70.05 points per game, 89th in the NCAA and fourth in The Valley.
Valpo ranks No. 175 in the latest NET ratings and No. 161 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 Drew Steffe (9.7), Rolyns Aligbe (9.0), Damien Mayo Jr. (9.0), Jalen Haynes (8.3), Prince Aligbe (7.8), Isaiah Stafford (7.3) and Davion Sykes (7.2).
Sophomore Max Pikaar has recorded a block in seven of eight MVC games and leads the team with 17 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 46.5 percent from the field, which is 125th in the nation. They do most of their work inside the arc, making only 4.9 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 seven contests. He had a season-high 22 in his first start of the season on Jan. 17 against Belmont.
SIU has been good on the boards, holding a +2.5 rebounds per game margin on the season. They are in the top 67 overall, averaging 38.8 rebounds per game. The Dawgs split up the work pretty evenly, with Rolyns Aligbe
leading the way with 6.7 boards per game. Aligbe has two double-doubles on the season, with his second coming 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 73-68 to Belmont on Jan. 17. Drew Steffe and Jalen Haynes had career-highs in points with 24 and 22, respectively. The Salukis had their best game of the season from the free-throw line, shooting 17-for-20 (85%).
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.
