CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Anthony Beane scored 32 points and Southern Illinois held on in the closing minutes to preserve a 72-69 win over Kent State Wednesday night.

Beane knocked down a jumper with 2:05 left to give the Salukis a 72-66 lead, but it was their final points of the game.

Kent State went to the line three times to shoot two free throws, but split each time and came up three points shy.

Beane converted 9 of 17 shots from the field and was 12 of 13 from the line to lead Southern Illinois. Mike Rodriguez and Tyler Smithpeters added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Kellon Thomas finished with 17 points to lead the Golden Flashes, who were a collective 16 of 36 from the free throw line. Jimmy Hall and Khaliq Spicer added 11 and 10 points for Kent State.