S. Illinois defeats Loyola (Chicago) 72-62 in MVC opener

Dec 30, 2015, 11:37 pm

CHICAGO -- Anthony Beane scored 26 points and Southern Illinois defeated Loyola of Chicago 72-62 in a conference opener on Wednesday night to remain unbeaten on the road.

The Salukis (12-2, 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference) are 5-0 in road games, and the 12-2 start is their best since the 2006-07 team put up the same record.

Beane, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, was the only Saluki in double figures. Bola Olaniyan and reserve guard Leo Vincent scored eight points each. Olaniyan added 10 rebounds.

Seldom-used Deng Leek, scoring just a single point this season, was called off the bench late in the first half. Leek, a 7-foot senior center, swatted away four Loyola shots in about three minutes, helping to hold the Ramblers scoreless. Leek also scored twice, once rebounding his own miss for a putback.

Milton Doyle led the Ramblers (7-6, 0-1) with 17 points and seven assists.