SIU chops down Sycamores

By Sean Carley, @SCarleyDE

SIU broke its four-game losing streak in a hard-fought victory Wednesday against Indiana State, 85-78.

The win, which gives SIU a season sweep of Indiana State (13-12, 7-6 MVC), puts the Salukis (19-7, 8-5 Missouri Valley Conference) in fourth place in the MVC.

Anthony Beane put on a show for the opposing fans, dropping game-highs with 31 points and six rebounds — his fifth 30-point game this season.

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Both teams shot lights out in Terre Haute, Ind. The Dawgs broke out of their shooting slump, making 55 percent of their shots, its second-best performance of the year. SIU shot 47.6 percent from behind-the-arc, its best performance since the win against Northern Iowa on Jan. 2.

Indiana State shot 49 percent overall and shot 51 percent in the second half with five threes to spark a comeback and take the lead with six minutes remaining. SIU then went on a 9-1 run to take a six-point lead that they would not lose.

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Five different Salukis combined to shoot 16-20 from the free-throw stripe in the second half to seal the game, including Beane (6-6) and junior forward Sean O’Brien (2-2) being perfect from the line.

The Salukis and Sycamores both had four double-digit scorers. Beane, junior guard Tyler Smithpeters (16 points), O’Brien (12) and junior center Bola Olaniyan (11) led SIU.

Junior forward Niels Bunschoten had a career-high 21 points to pace the Sycamores. Senior guard Devonte Brown (19 points), senior guard/forward Khristian Smith (18) and sophomore guard Brenton Scott (12) were the double-digit scorers for Indiana State.

Outside of those four, the rest of the Sycamores combined for just eight points.

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Second and third place Evansville and Illinois State face off tomorrow and the winner will be in second, while the loser will be tied with SIU for third.

Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3304.

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