VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — In a grinding Missouri Valley Conference rematch decided at the free-throw line, Valparaiso held off a furious second-half rally from Southern Illinois to secure a 69-63 victory on Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Beacons, who led by as many as 19 points in the first half, saw that commanding advantage whittled down to a single possession in the final minute before sealing the game with clutch free throws. The win evened Valparaiso’s season record at 10-10 overall, while Southern Illinois dropped to 8-12.

The game’s pivotal stretch came in the closing seconds. With Valparaiso clinging to a 65-63 lead and 10 seconds remaining, Southern Illinois’ Jalen Haynes was fouled on a driving layup but missed the ensuing free throw that would have completed a three-point play and given the Salukis the lead. Valparaiso’s Brody Whitaker grabbed the defensive rebound, was fouled immediately, and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 67-63 with 10 seconds left.

After a Southern Illinois turnover on the ensuing inbounds play, Whitaker was fouled again and hit two more from the line to provide the final margin, capping a 6-0 Valparaiso run to end the game, all on free throws.

The contest was a tale of two halves, defined by Valparaiso’s blistering start and Southern Illinois’ determined response. The Beacons dominated the opening period, shooting 48 percent from the field and connecting on 5 of 10 three-pointers to build a 39-20 halftime lead. Justus McNair was the catalyst, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the first half, including three three-pointers during a personal 8-0 run that stretched an early Valparaiso lead to 15-2.

Southern Illinois, which shot a frigid 28 percent in the first half, emerged from the locker room with renewed energy. The Salukis opened the second half on a 23-8 run, fueled by aggressive defense and attacking the basket. They outscored Valparaiso 43-30 after halftime, largely by dominating the interior, finishing with a 34-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 17-4 edge in second-chance points thanks to 10 offensive rebounds.

Haynes led the Salukis’ charge, scoring 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half. Drew Steffe added 14 points, while the frontcourt duo of Rolyns Aligbe and Prince Aligbe each contributed 10 points. Despite the improved offense, Southern Illinois was plagued by poor free-throw shooting, making just 18 of 30 attempts, a critical factor in the narrow loss.

Valparaiso’s offense, so fluid in the first half, stalled after the break, shooting just 35 percent. They were carried by timely scoring from Whitaker, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, including the four decisive free throws, and efficient play from center Shon Tupuola, who had six points, two blocks, and several key defensive rebounds. Rakim Chaney facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists.

Statistically, the game was a paradox. Southern Illinois won several key categories: points in the paint, second-chance points, fast-break points, and points off turnovers. However, Valparaiso’s superior efficiency proved decisive. The Beacons posted an offensive rating of 107.4, scoring 69 points on just 64 possessions, compared to Southern Illinois’ rating of 95.1. Valparaiso also shot significantly better from the floor (48.8% to 41.2%) and from three-point range (43.8% to 21.4%).

The victory gave Valparaiso a split of the season series after Southern Illinois won the first meeting 75-70 on Jan. 1. The Beacons will host Belmont on Jan. 28, while Southern Illinois travels to face Evansville on Jan. 25.