FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Southern Illinois men’s basketball team scored 44 points in the paint and out-rebounded Colorado State by 17 in a 15-point win over the Rams. Five Salukis scored in double-figures, led by Armon Fletcher‘s game-high 20 points. SIU’s win, along with Drake’s over Boise State, gives the Missouri Valley Conference an early 2-1 lead in the MVC-Mountain West Conference Challenge. 

In the first half, Colorado State (4-3) shot a blistering 59 percent–the only time SIU has surrendered better than 50 percent shooting in any half this season–and made seven 3-pointers. But Southern (4-3) also played nearly flawless offense, shooting 63 percent from the field and committing only three turnovers. SIU closed the half on an 8-2 run over the final two minutes to take a 45-40 lead into the break. 

SIU slowly separated in the second half. Sean Lloyd Jr.’s 3-pointer with eight minutes to play capped a 15-5 run that put the Salukis up by 15 points, 67-52. Southern’s smothering defense held CSU to 40.9 percent shooting in the second half. 

“At halftime, we talked about how we have to take this game away defensively,” SIU head coach Barry Hinsonsaid. “You have to be able to get collective stops.”

A balanced SIU offense showcased unselfishness (23 assists) while committing only eight turnovers. Lloyd (13), Fletcher (20), Aaron Cook (15), Kavion Pippen (16) and Eric McGill (10) all scored in double figures for SIU. Pippen went 8-for-11 from the field, and McGill stuffed the stat sheet with 4-for-6 shooting, a career-high seven assists, and five rebounds. 

“We moved the ball well because we have good guards,” Hinson said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with coaching; it has everything to do with players. We have good players and they move the ball. The most important thing is they’re so unselfish. Eric McGill had a wide open layup and turned it down to give to Armon for a dunk. That’s pretty unselfish.”

SIU shot 57.6 percent for the game and hit nine 3-pointers. Cook was 6-for-8 from the field and 3-for-4 from the 3-point line. Notably, the home team in all games of the MVC-MWC Challenge had been 20-0 over the past two seasons, but the Salukis pulled out a road win in the challenge tonight.

Southern Illinois travels to Edwardsville to face sister school SIUE on Saturday, December 1. Tip is set for 2 p.m. CT. The stretch is the fourth game in a row SIU will be away from home, after two games in Las Vegas, tonight, and Saturday at Edwardsville. 

“We have to win on the road,” Hinson said. “We knew this was a big stretch, a four-game road stretch. We have a chance to come out of that 3-1, and we think that would be pretty special. We’re going to enjoy this one tonight, and we’re going to get up in the morning and start working on Edwardsville.”