22-0 Run Powers Salukis to Senior Night Victory over Indiana State

Wednesday, February 25

Carbondale, IL

7 PM

Southern Illinois University

15-15,9-10MVC

Indiana State

10-20,3-16MVC

Indiana St.

Southern Ill.

Jorge Moreno

Photo by: Saluki Athletic Communications

22-0 Run Powers Salukis to Senior Night Victory over Indiana State

02/25/2026 | 11:16:00 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - On an emotional senior night, Southern Illinois went on a blazing 22-0 run in the first half to energize the Banterra Center in a 66-55 win over Indiana State on Wednesday night. The run was the second time SIU achieved that mark this season, with the first coming on Feb. 12 at home against Evansville.

SIU began the night honoring its five seniors, Prince Aligbe, Damien Mayo Jr., Jorge Moreno, Isaiah Stafford and Davion Sykes. Few seniors around the country will have a night as special as Moreno, whose parents, Bardo and Esmerelda, watched their son play college basketball for the first time. Their trip from Mexico was made possible by generous donors in the Saluki family.

The Sycamores got off to a quick start, leading 15-6 at the 13:43 mark. Southern then embarked on its 22-0 run, its second of the season, and never looked back.

"The key was defense, I think we got 10 stops in a row," Mayo said. "Defensively and then our transition play was a big key into our 22-0 run."

Sykes highlighted his senior night with two dunks in the first half, the second one being of the alley-oop variety to close the half as SIU went into the break up 36-23.

The final deficit of 11 was the closest Indiana State got in the second half, as Southern's balanced offense and smothering defense once against powered it to another win.

55 points is the lowest total of Indiana State's season, and a team known for turning the ball over had 18 on Wednesday night.

Quel'Ron House, Mayo, Drew Steffe, Sykes and Jalen Haynes each scored in double figures, the fourth time SIU accomplished the feat this season.

Haynes played a big role with an 11-point night off the bench which included a 6-for-6 performance at the free-throw line. Head Coach Scott Nagy had high praise for his physical tools that help him draw fouls in the lane.

"He's just so explosive," Nagy said. "He's as good an athlete as I've ever coached."

UP NEXT
Originally scheduled to be Southern's second off day of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, Southern Illinois will make up its postponed Jan. 25 game with Evansville on Sunday in Southwest Indiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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