TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a critical Missouri Valley Conference matchup between teams seeking momentum for the stretch run, the Southern Illinois Salukis delivered a decisive road performance, defeating the Indiana State Sycamores 80-65 on Monday night at Hulman Center.

The Salukis, who improved to 11-14 overall and 6-8 in the league, used a balanced offensive attack and a persistent defensive effort to secure their second win in three games. The Sycamores fell to 10-15 and 5-9, losing for the fifth time in their last seven outings.

Southern Illinois never trailed after the opening minutes, establishing control with a 37-32 halftime lead. The Salukis then methodically pulled away in the second half, stretching their advantage to as many as 18 points before settling on the 15-point final margin. The victory was a significant one for Southern Illinois, which had lost four of its previous five games entering the contest and was projected as a slight underdog by the national ELO system.

The most important part of the game was Southern Illinois’s ability to maintain and extend its lead throughout the second half despite a standout individual effort from Indiana State’s Ian Scott. The Salukis weathered every Sycamore push with a timely response, preventing Indiana State from ever mounting a sustained run to seriously threaten the lead. A key sequence occurred with just over six minutes remaining in the game. After Bruno Alocen hit a three-pointer to bring Indiana State within 57-54, the Salukis answered with a 9-0 run over the next two and a half minutes. The surge was capped by a Rolyns Aligbe dunk off a feed from Quel’Ron House, pushing the lead back to 66-54 and effectively sealing the outcome.

Southern Illinois showcased its depth, with five players scoring in double figures. Guard Quel’Ron House led the way with 14 points and a game-high five assists, playing all 40 minutes to direct the offense. Forwards Rolyns Aligbe and Davion Sykes each contributed 13 points, with Sykes adding a key block. Guards Drew Steffe and Jalen Haynes chipped in 12 points apiece. The Salukis shared the ball effectively, assisting on 18 of their 30 made field goals.

Indiana State was led by the duo of Ian Scott and Bruno Alocen. Scott, a forward from Plainfield, Indiana, finished with 13 points, three assists and two blocks in 32 minutes. Alocen, a guard from Barcelona, Spain, poured in a game-high 17 points in just 23 minutes off the bench. However, the rest of the Sycamores combined for only 35 points on inconsistent shooting. The team also committed 18 turnovers, which Southern Illinois converted into 19 points.

The game’s total of 145 points fell just under the pregame over/under line of 144.5. An announced crowd of 4,705 watched the contest.

Southern Illinois will look to build on the road win when it returns home to host Evansville on Thursday night. Indiana State aims to regroup quickly as it prepares to welcome Murray State to Hulman Center, also on Thursday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Carbondale on Feb. 25.