Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Evansville
Salukis Make Snowy Trip to Evansville
01/24/2026 | 11:35:00 | Men's Basketball
The Salukis (8-12, 2-7 MVC) take on the Purple Aces (5-15, 1-8 MVC) at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
Game Details
Matchup: SIU at Evansville
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Ford Center, Valparaiso, Ind.
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SCOUTING THE PURPLE ACES
After losing its first six MVC games, Evansville picked up a 72-69 victory at Indiana State on Jan. 10. Last time out, they lost 76-49 at UIC.
Center Connor Turnbull leads the Purple Aces, averaging 12.4 points per game, but the 2025 MVC Defensive Player of the Year has not played since Jan. 4. The Purple Aces are 1-5 in games he does not play. AJ Casey leads the team in points per game in conference play, scoring 14.4 points per game.
They average 67.25 points per game as a team, 340th nationally and 10th in The Valley.
Defensively, the Purple Aces allow 73.8 points per game, 190th in the NCAA and fourth in The Valley.
UE ranks No. 284 in the latest NET ratings and No. 289 in KenPom.
THE DAWGS
Eight Salukis average more than 18 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 (9.9), Rolyns Aligbe (9.1), Damien Mayo Jr. (8.8), Jalen Haynes (8.7), Prince Aligbe (7.9), Isaiah Stafford (7.3) and Davion Sykes (7.0).
Sophomore Max Pikaar has recorded a block in seven of nine 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 46.3 percent from the field, which is 133rd in the nation. They do most of their work inside the arc, making only 4.8 3-pointers per game, which is bottom five in the country.
Freshman Jalen Haynes has been a bright spot off the bench this season, scoring in double figures in eight 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 +2.6 rebounds per game margin on the season. They are in the top 68 overall, averaging 38.6 rebounds per game. The Dawgs split up the work pretty evenly, with Rolyns Aligbe leading the way with 6.5 boards per game. Aligbe has two double-doubles on the season, with his second coming against Drake on Jan. 14 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. 143 in the most recent NET ratings, sixth in the MVC.
LAST TIME OUT
Southern Illinois fell 69-63 at Valparaiso on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Haynes led the Salukis with 17 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.
