Southern Illinois squeaks past Illinois State 65-59

By foxsports
Published

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) Anthony Beane scored 23 points, Deion Lavender added 15, and Southern Illinois held off a late Illinois State charge to win 65-59 on Saturday, ending the Redbirds' three-game winning streak.

Jordan Caroline scored 12 - including the go-ahead free throw with 48 seconds left - for SIU (10-15, 3-9 Missouri Valley Conference), which led by as many as 18.

Beane hit an early jumper for his 500th career point at SIU Arena and the Salukis led 34-28 at halftime.

SIU pulled ahead 44-34 early in the second half, but DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell hit three consecutive 3-pointers and a jumper and the Redbirds drew within 54-53 with 3:50 left. Daishon Knight put the Redbirds up 57-55 with free throws, the lead flip-flopped, then Caroline hit two free throws for a 61-59 Salukis lead.

Akoon-Purcell scored 19 for Illinois State (15-9, 7-5), Reggie Lynch had a career-high 18, and Knight added 10.