SIUC guard Shane Hawkins capped a special offensive performance in the most unique way he knew how Thursday night a two-handed breakaway dunk.

Hawkins put the exclamation point on a standout team and individual effort with 3:47 left against Southwest Missouri State University. Shortly after tying the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-time record for most career three-point field goals, Hawkins stepped out of character and slammed the door on the Bears’ chances.

The dunk brought the SIUC crowd into a frenzy and ignited the Salukis to an impressive 106-78 win at SIU Arena. SIUC shot 62 percent from the field and outrebounded SMSU 45-28.

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The win boosted SIUC’s record to 8-8 overall and 3-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis also snapped a three-game losing streak. SMSU dropped to 5-11 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

[The last time I dunked was] against (Hawaii) Hilo my sophomore year, Hawkins said. It’s a great win, obviously. We’ve had our night when nothing went right against Illinois State (in a 105-70 loss Saturday). Everything was going in the hole for us.

Hawkins tied SMSU’s Johnny Murdock Thursday for the conference’s top three-point shooting honor. Murdock made 266 threes in his career from 1991-95.

SIUC scored the most points in school history since a 114-64 blitzing of the University of Tampa Nov. 27, 1993. The 26-point margin was the largest since a 67-38 pasting of St. Louis University Dec. 4, 1996. The win also sent a message to the rest of the Valley, as the Bears were picked to finish second in conference play behind Illinois State University in the pre-season coaches poll.

Sophomore forward Chris Thunell led SIUC with a career-high 27 points, while Hawkins and senior forward Rashad Tucker each poured in 20. Kevin Ault led SMSU with 23 points.

Good things happen and you look pretty good when you make baskets, and that’s what we did, SIUC coach Rich Herrin said.

Unlike their recent starts, the Salukis came out firing Thursday night and found the basket easy to find. But after a solid first half, SIUC knew SMSU was unwilling to roll over.

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The Salukis ran into a stingy Bears’ defense to open the second half. After SMSU took a 64-63 lead with 10:47 left, junior guard Monte Jenkins sparked a 9-1 Saluki run with two baskets. Hawkins gave the Salukis a 72-65 lead on a three-point field goal with 8:24 left.

Hawkins added another three-pointer one minute later to give SIUC a 75-65 lead. After an SMSU miss, Hawkins found Tucker for a layup to put the Salukis in front 77-65. Tucker added four more points to widen the gap to 82-68 with six minutes left, forcing Bears coach Steve Alford to call a 20-second timeout.

Instead of reversing its fortunes, SMSU watched SIUC explode offensively and spread the wealth in the process. Jenkins and Thunell each added baskets before Hawkins wrapped up the lead and the win. The Salukis then rolled the rest of the way as every shot seemed to find its way in the hole.

I really like [the Salukis] tonight, SMSU coach Steve Alford said. I thought they took good shots, and they knocked down good shots. They took advantage of our softness and took advantage of our inability to guard.

SIUC shook off its recent dry spell from the field with a solid team effort in the first half. Led by three three-point field goals from Thunell, the Salukis shot 43 percent from the field in building up a 41-32 lead with four minutes remaining before halftime.

SMSU, led by the standout play of junior center Danny Moore, hung close with SIUC early. Moore scored the Bears’ first 10 points on the way to a team-high 15. SMSU cut the Salukis’ lead to 45-39 as William Fontleroy hit a hanging runner off the backboard to beat the first-half buzzer.

Tucker led a balanced SIUC scoring attack with 13 points in the first half. Hawkins added three three-pointers for nine points as eight Salukis cracked the scoring column.

SIUC hits the road this weekend to take on Wichita State University at 7:35 p.m. Saturday in Wichita, Kan.