Discover the Salukis: Southern Illinois’ Premier Athletics Hub!

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois basketball resumes play in the Missouri Valley Conference on Wednesday as Evansville visits Carbondale for the third annual New Year’s Saluki Bash. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CT from Banterra Center.
 
PROMOTIONS

• Tickets begin at $4 with no additional fees when you buy online at SIUSalukis.com/Promo
  • $4 Reserved Section 113 (promo code “FOUR”)
  • $5 Reserved 200-level best available (promo code “FIVE”)
  • $6 Reserved 200-level best available (promo code “SIX”)
  • Half-price chair-back tickets (promo code “FIFTY”)
• The largest balloon drop in history of Southern Illinois during halftime
• Halftime entertainment by Snow Power Gymnastics & Dance
• Champagne Flute, Cranberry Mimosa, Champagne Punch, Party Starter for $6

 
ESPN+ Broadcast | Radio Broadcast | Live Stats | SIU Game Notes | Live Updates on X
 
HOW TO FOLLOW

• Providing commentary for the ESPN Plus broadcast are Mike Trude and Saluki Hall of Famer Jamaal Tatum.
• Listeners can catch the radio broadcast locally on 101.5 CIL-FM, via the Saluki Radio Network, SIUSalukis.com/Listen, the Saluki Mobile App, and the Varsity Network App featuring Luke Martin and Rodney Watson narrating the action.
• Fans can track Live Stats at SIUSalukis.com.

 
QUICK HITS

• Ali Dibba has achieved 10 or more points in every match except one this season. The senior guard recorded a career-high of 27 against High Point after scoring 26 points against Eastern Kentucky, with 24 of those 26 points in the second half. He leads the squad with an average of 15.4 points per game.
• Kennard Davis Jr. ranks second on the team, averaging 13.8 points per game, along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Davis stands third in the MVC (behind Drake’s Bennett Stirtz and UIC’s Javon Jackson) in steals per game this season, averaging 2.04 steals.
• Jarrett Hensley has just come off a career-high performance of 20 points during a game on the road at Northern Iowa. The senior is averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. In two MVC games, Hensley leads his team with 16 points and nine rebounds.
• Jarrett Hensley achieved consecutive double-doubles for the Salukis against Bradley and Southern Indiana — marking the first double-doubles of his career. Hensley recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds against Bradley while posting 16 points and 11 rebounds against Southern Indiana.
• SIU is positioned third in the MVC with 36.85 rebounds per game. The Salukis have excelled on the offensive boards, ranking fourth in the league with 11.15 offensive rebounds this season.
• SIU averages 11.08 fastbreak points per game this season, placing them fourth in the MVC.

 
ALIGBE NAMED MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

• Forward Rolyns Aligbe was awarded the MVC Freshman of the Week title following his performance at UNI. Aligbe, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, made his first career start for the Salukis on the road against Northern Iowa on Sunday. He contributed seven points and secured a team-high eight rebounds in the defeat.
• This big man averages 4.3 points and 4.1 rebounds over 14 minutes of gameplay per outing this season. He has achieved five or more points in six games and recorded a season-high of 10 rebounds on the road at Florida.

 
LOOKING AT EVANSVILLE

• Evansville was predicted to finish ninth in the MVC Preseason Poll. The Aces enter this matchup with a record of 4-9 overall and 1-1 in MVC play after a victory over Missouri State at home.
• As a unit, UE is averaging 64.9 points per game and is spearheaded by Gabriel Pozzato, who contributes 15.4 points per game. Cameron Haffner follows as the second scorer on the team with 12.8 points per game.
• The Aces lead the MVC with an average of 4.4 blocked shots per game and rank fourth in the league for field goal defense at 43.4 percent.

 
SERIES HISTORY WITH THE ACES

• Southern Illinois holds a lead in the series against the Purple Aces at 79-58 and has claimed victory in nine of the last 10 encounters, including five consecutive wins.
• Southern boasts a home record of 47-18 against UE, versus 23-28 on the road, and 2-3 on neutral ground.

 
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Stay updated with the latest news and insights on the Salukis by visiting SIUSalukis.com, as well as following the team on X at @SIU_Basketball, Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and Facebook at Facebook.com/SIUBasketball. Supporters can also download the “Salukis” mobile application from the App Store or Google Play Store.