Illinois State Redbirds @ Southern Illinois Salukis
Southern Illinois squeaks past Illinois State 65-59
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Anthony Beane scored 23 points, Deion Lavender added 15, and Southern Illinois held off a late Illinois State charge to win 65-59 on Saturday, ending the Redbirds' three-game winning streak.
Jordan Caroline scored 12 -- including the go-ahead free throw with 48 seconds left -- for SIU (10-15, 3-9 Missouri Valley Conference), which led by as many as 18.
Beane hit an early jumper for his 500th career point at SIU Arena and the Salukis led 34-28 at halftime.
SIU pulled ahead 44-34 early in the second half, but DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell hit three consecutive 3-pointers and a jumper and the Redbirds drew within 54-53 with 3:50 left. Daishon Knight put the Redbirds up 57-55 with free throws, the lead flip-flopped, then Caroline hit two free throws for a 61-59 Salukis lead.
Akoon-Purcell scored 19 for Illinois State (15-9, 7-5), Reggie Lynch had a career-high 18, and Knight added 10.
Game Information
Carbondale, IL
Referee:David Stevens
Referee:Gene Grimshaw
Referee:Edward Crenshaw
2025-26 Standings
| Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-4 | - | 26-6 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3 | 21-13 |
| Illinois State | 12-8 | 4 | 23-13 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4 | 20-13 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4 | 19-16 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 23-13 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5 | 18-15 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10 | 14-20 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12 | 11-21 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |




