Rolyns Aligbe Grabs 16 Boards as Southern Takes Down Indiana State

Monday, February 9

Terre Haute, IN

6 PM (CST)

Southern Illinois University

11-14,5-9MVC

Indiana State

10-15,3-11MVC

Southern Ill.

Indiana St.

Rolyns Aligbe

Photo by: Jordan Kruse

Rolyns Aligbe Grabs 16 Boards as Southern Takes Down Indiana State

02/09/2026 | 8:49:00 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Rolyns Aligbe had 16 rebounds in Southern Illinois' 80-65 win over Indiana State on Monday night, the most by a Saluki since Thik Bol corralled 17 on Nov. 16, 2016. He added 13 points to his ledger and knocked down two threes in the process for his fifth double-double of the season.

"He's a gifted athlete for sure," Head Coach Scott Nagy said. "You know shooting the ball well from three, which I think puts a lot more pressure on teams."

Along with Rolyns Aligbe, Quel'Ron House (14), Davion Sykes (13), Jalen Haynes (12) and Drew Steffe (12) each added totals in double figures, the first time Southern has had five players with 10-plus points since last season on Feb. 22, 2025, versus Valparaiso. That effort led to Southern reaching 50 points in the paint for the second time this season with 52 on the night.

A tight contest early, SIU took the lead for good with an 11-0 run in the first half, capped by a layup with a foul from Rolyns Aligbe, who cashed in the three-point play from the free-throw line. The Salukis held a 25-15 lead, but Indiana State stayed in the game with an 8-0 spurt of their own. SIU led 37-32 at the break.

Rolyns Aligbe's rebounding reached an elite level in the second frame, grabbing 10, including six on the offensive glass, with an emphatic putback dunk to force a Sycamore timeout with SIU up 67-49. The advantage would extend as high as 20 with 5:56 to go, giving the Salukis breathing room to play the clock and claim the 80-65 victory.

"We realize that we're a good team once we get it going," Rolyns Aligbe said. "So I think that was really the key."

Southern Illinois is now 11-14 on the season, and 5-9 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

UP NEXT
The Salukis are back home for the annual Blackout Cancer game against Evansville on Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with tickets available here.

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