More than 8,300 fans will jam into SIU Arena on Saturday to watch the Salukis take on the Wichita State Shockers in the arena’s 25th sellout for men’s basketball. 

SIU basketball announced the sellout at SIU Arena, which was built 51 years ago, on Saturday morning via Twitter.

“Last sellable ticket to today’s game purchased at 6:52. Game is officially SOLD OUT! #SalukiStrong,” @SIU_Basketball tweeted shortly after 7 a.m. “Students may pick up tix with ID at 1:30.”

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Saluki coach Barry Hinson is no doubt excited to see a full house for the 3 p.m. matchup, but said his team will need to be calm under all the pressure.

“This crowd will not affect [Wichita State],” Hinson said Friday. “They play in front of sold-out crowds at home and everywhere they play on the road. The challenge for us is how we handle the crowd.”

Although all the tickets are gone, Saluki Athletics has set aside about 600 tickets for students. Students can enter the stadium early with their university ID. 

The Dawgs haven’t sold out SIU Arena since March 1, 2014 against Illinois State. Saturday’s highly anticipated game is a matchup between two teams that are 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play. 

SIU basketball (14-2) will try to start its conference season 4-0 for the first time since 2005-06, while the Shockers (9-5) have won seven of their last eight games.

“SIU Arena is going to be electric,” Brian Clark, assistant athletic director for marketing, said Friday. “It’s going to be one of those memorable sports moments at SIU Arena.”

Follow the Daily Egyptian on Twitter at @dailyegyptian for live-coverage of the matchup. 

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