The SIU men’s basketball team won in Missouri State on Sunday, 80-65, for the first time since 2009.

SIU (18-3, 7-1 Missouri Valley Conference) shot 47.5 percent from the field and 7-18 from behind the 3-point arc en route to the win. The Dawgs are now solely in second place in the MVC behind Wichita State, which is 8-0 in MVC play.

The only loss in MVC play was to Wichita State, when the Salukis lost in front of a sell out crowd at home.

The Salukis advanced to a nation-best 8-0 road record. They lost to UTEP on a neutral site game in Nov. 27.

MORE: Missouri State is like homecoming for some Salukis | Surging Salukis run through Rodriguez

Junior center Bola Olaniyan put in a lay-up with 10:23 remaining in the second half to give the Salukis a game-high 23 point lead. Olaniyan led the team with a career-high 17 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes.

Junior guard Dequon Miller led the Bears (8-12, 4-4 MVC) with 22 points on 8-16 shooting.

Five Salukis ended the game in double figures, senior guard Anthony Beane did not as he finished with eight points on 1-7 shooting. He played in 37 minutes today, which led the team.

Beane entered the game second in conference in scoring, but has failed to crack 10 points in his second straight contest. He finished the game with six assists and four rebounds.

Junior guard Tyler Smithpeters made all four of his shot attempts today, each from behind the 3-point arc. He finished with 13 points in 23 minutes. 

SIU plays Evansville 7 p.m. Thursday in SIU Arena.  

Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EvanJones_DE