Southern Illinois Basketball Falls to Oklahoma State, 85-78
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Southern Illinois Salukis faced a tough challenge on the road against Power 5 opponent Oklahoma State, suffering an 85-78 defeat at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Thursday night. Elijah Elliott led the Salukis with 21 points, including five three-pointers, while Kennard Davis Jr. and Ali Dibba contributed 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Despite trailing by 18 points with less than seven minutes left, the Salukis rallied to close the gap to just four points with 24 seconds remaining. Head coach Scott Nagy praised the team’s perseverance, emphasizing the importance of growth despite the discouragement. "We didn’t play great, but our kids fought, and that will show up with victories eventually," he stated.
Southern Illinois found success in rebounding, outpacing Oklahoma State 36-33 and compiling 15 second-chance points. Turnovers, however, proved costly, as the Salukis committed 18 turnovers that allowed Oklahoma State to score 30 points off those mistakes.
The game began positively for SIU, which surged to a 10-2 lead. The teams exchanged runs, with Oklahoma State eventually leading 38-37 at halftime. Both teams continued to trade baskets in the second half until OSU mounted a significant 27-point run against SIU’s nine, widening their lead to 18 points.
Elliott and Davis led the comeback effort, with Davis scoring 11 points during a late run. Additionally, Davion Sykes added nine points and three assists, while Dibba and Davis both contributed with five rebounds each.
Southern Illinois shot 51 percent from the field but struggled from the free-throw line, making just 5 of 11 attempts. Next up, SIU returns home to face North Dakota State on Monday at 7 p.m. CT in Banterra Center.
Fans can follow the Salukis via their official website and social media platforms for updates and team news.
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Photo credit siusalukis.com