Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) basketball team is set to return to the Banterra Center after a four-game road trip for an important early-season matchup against Bradley, the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) preseason favorite. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Fans can purchase $10 tickets through Monday as part of a Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion. During the game, Chancellor Lane will select one lucky winner from the Dawg Pound to receive free tuition for the semester. Additionally, SIU will recognize its service award employees.

The ESPN Plus broadcast will feature John Rooney and Rich Zvosec, while local radio coverage can be accessed on 101.5 CIL-FM and other platforms with Luke Martin and Rodney Watson providing commentary.

Kennard Davis Jr. and Ali Dibba have received Third Team Preseason All-MVC honors. Davis has been a consistent performer, scoring at least 15 points in recent games and achieving his first double-double against La Tech. Dibba has also been reliable offensively, scoring 12 or more points in every game this season.

Sheridan Sharp has stepped into the rotation following an injury to Elijah Elliott, who suffered an ACL tear during a game in Florida. Head coach Scott Nagy, in his first year with SIU, brings extensive experience with 30 years of head coaching history.

Bradley enters the matchup with a 7-1 record, having won their last six games and claiming the Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship. They were picked as MVC preseason favorites due to their returning scoring power including Duke Deen, the MVC Preseason Player of the Year.

In their series history, Bradley leads SIU 58-50 overall but SIU holds a home advantage of 28-20 against Bradley.

For more updates on Salukis basketball, fans can visit SIUSalukis.com or follow them on social media platforms such as X and Instagram.