The SIU men’s basketball team is off to its best start since 2001 as they beat North Texas (2-7) 95-63 to improve to an 8-1 record.

SIU led for all but 21 seconds, and the 32 point margin of victory is the 8th best margin of victory on the the road in Salukis history.

The Salukis made four of their first five shots to take a 11-4 lead four minutes into the game.

Senior guard Anthony Beane connected on his first seven shots, three of which were three-pointers, to lead the Salukis with 19 first-half points. He finished with 27 points.

In the first half, junior center Bola Olanyian made his first appearance in three games after his indefinite suspension for violating team rules and finished with two points in 18 minutes.

SIU ended the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 40-23 lead into the break.

The Salukis shot 68 percent in the first half and forced 12 North Texas turnovers.

The second half had more of the same, as SIU made seven of their first nine shots.

SIU’s 68.3 shooting percentage (35-52) is tied for the 5th best shooting performance in Saluki history, and the best since 1994.

Junior guard Mike Rodriguez and junior forward Sean O’Brien joined Beane in double-digit scoring with 12 and 10, respectively.

Of the 20 minutes in the second half, 17:17 of it came with a Saluki lead of at least 20 points.

All 14 Salukis registered playing time and 12 players scored.

The Salukis will be back in Carbondale at 7 p.m. Wednesday to face SIU-Edwardsville.

Sean Carley can be reached from [email protected] or at 536-3307.