Southern Illinois Salukis Fall to Indiana State in 95-77 Regular Season Finale

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Southern Illinois University men’s basketball team ended their regular season on a disappointing note, suffering a 95-77 defeat to Indiana State on Sunday afternoon.

The Salukis concluded the season with an overall record of 13-18 and finished 8-12 in the Missouri Valley Conference. They will enter the upcoming Arch Madness tournament as the No. 8 seed, set to face No. 9 Indiana State again at noon on Thursday in St. Louis.

Four players scored in double figures for Southern Illinois, led by Kennard Davis Jr., who tallied 19 points while adding two assists. Davion Sykes contributed 12 points, including 10 in a challenging first half. Ali Dibba and Jarrett Hensley complemented the scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Despite a competitive start, the Salukis fell behind dramatically as Indiana State dominated the first half. The Sycamores shot an impressive 64.5% from the floor, including six successful 3-pointers, opening a substantial 52-31 lead at halftime. Indiana State’s forward, Samage Teel, was a key player, leading his team with 20 points.

Foul trouble significantly impacted Southern Illinois, notably for forward Ali Dibba, who struggled early and went to the bench for much of the first half. As the Salukis battled to stay in the game, they were out-rebounded 41-29, allowing Indiana State to secure 12 points from second-chance opportunities.

Southern Illinois demonstrated notable shooting issues, finishing the game 45% from the field and only managing to convert five of their 18 attempts from beyond the arc (27.8%). Their struggles extended to the free-throw line, where they made just 18 of 33 attempts, equating to a 54.5% success rate.

The second half saw some offensive improvement from the Salukis, with Sykes and Dibba trying to spark a comeback. However, the momentum was not enough to significantly close the gap, as Indiana State maintained their lead, finishing the half with over 50% shooting efficiency once again and scoring an additional 43 points.

As the Salukis prepare for Arch Madness, they remain determined to recover from the recent loss and seek redemption against Indiana State. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. Thursday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, with the stakes high for a chance to advance past the initial round.

Connections to the Salukis can be followed via their official team accounts on social media and the “Salukis” mobile app for ongoing updates.