Illinois State committed 24 turnovers and continued to have problems generating points throughout the game as the Southern Illinois Salukis cruised to a 79-58 conference victory over the Redbirds in Carbondale, Ill. The Salukis had four players reach double figures in scoring in the game.
Southern Illinois, 12-2 (2-0 MVC), started to pull away midway through the first half with a 11-2 run. With the score 43-31 at the half, the Salukis added some more cushion to their lead with a 13-3 run to open the second half. SIU took their largest lead of the game, 72-40, with a little over eight minutes remaining in the game.
Shedrick Ford led Illinois State, 4-9 (0-2 MVC), with 16 points shooting 7 for 14 from the field. Baboucarr Bojang was the only other Redbird to reach double figures with 13 points. Bojang also led the Birds on the boards with nine rebounds.
Southern Illinois was led in scoring by junior Jermaine Dearman with 16 points, while freshman guard Stetson Hairston put together the best performance of his young collegiate career with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Salukis tallied 20 offensive boards in the game, which helped create plenty of opportunities for SIU to score.
The Redbirds return home for a Missouri Valley Conference match-up against the Wichita State Shockers on Monday, January 7, at 7:05 p.m.
