Belmont Aims for Revenge Against Southern Illinois in MVC Rematch

CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — A swift rematch with revenge on its mind awaits Belmont when it visits Southern Illinois on Saturday in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball clash at SIU Arena.

The Bruins (16-3, 5-1 MVC), riding a three-game winning streak, have not forgotten their lone conference loss, a 68-67 heartbreaker to the Salukis on Jan. 4 in Nashville. That result snapped Belmont’s nine-game winning streak.

Southern Illinois (8-10, 2-3), however, has struggled since that upset, dropping three of its last four, including a 76-73 overtime loss to Drake on Wednesday. The Salukis will look to recapture the defensive intensity that held Belmont to its lowest scoring output of the season in the first meeting.

A key matchup will feature Belmont’s Jabez Jenkins against Southern Illinois’ Damien Mayo. Jenkins, a dynamic guard, scored 17 points in the first matchup and is coming off another 17-point performance in a win over Valparaiso. Mayo was limited to five points in the Jan. 4 win but is the Salukis’ leading scorer, averaging 19 points over his last two games.

The Bruins have proven formidable on the road, boasting a 6-2 record away from home, including recent wins at Drake and Northern Iowa. Their high-powered offense averages 79.2 points per game. Southern Illinois, which averages 72.7 points, is 6-3 at home this season and will need a strong defensive effort to contain a balanced Belmont attack.

Saturday’s contest is the backend of a home-and-home series within a two-week span. A Belmont victory would solidify its place atop the MVC standings, while a Southern Illinois sweep would provide a massive boost to its conference resume.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST.