Salukis Defeat Sycamores, 69-61

TERRE HAUTE, IN (1-11-2003) —  Kent Williams scored all of his 21 points  in the last 21 minutes Saturday to lead Southern Illinois in its 69-61 Missouri Valley Conference victory over Indiana State.

The Salukis (9-3, 4-0 MVC) won their fourth straight game and maintained a share of first place in the league. Indiana State (5-9, 1-2) lost its second game of the week and dropped its third straight to the Salukis.

The Salukis outscored the Sycamores 10-2 to take their biggest lead of the first half at 26-15 before ISU cut the lead to 28-25.

Williams, the leading scorer for SIU, got his first points of the contest in the final 57 seconds of the half to put the Salukis up 33-25 at the half.

He hit a 3-pointer for a 44-35 advantage and his fourth trey gave SIU its biggest lead of the game at 62-50.

The Sycamores got within a point, 45-44, but trailed 52-44 after a 3-pointer by Williams and got no closer than five the rest of the way.

Both teams finished with 22 field goals and 37 rebounds. SIU had a 7-2 edge in 3s and had three more free throws.

SIU shot 45 percent (22-of-49). ISU was good on 39 percent (22-of-57). David Moss led Indiana State with 13 points. Jerod Adler had 11 and Catrel Green and Wilfred Antoine each had 10. Stetson Hairston had a double-double for SIU with  14 points and 10 rebounds.  Darren Brooks scored 12.
 
Up next for Indiana State is a pair of road games this week.  The first is a 7:05 p.m., CST tilt at Northern Iowa on Thursday, Jan. 16.  Live Internet Audio Streaming coverage on USA-365.com begins with the pregame show at 6:40 p.m., CST.  Then it's on to Des Moines, IA for a Saturday, Jan. 18 match up with Drake.  The pre-game is at 6:40 p.m. and tip-off at 7:05 p.m., CST.

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