Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's basketball team showcased their new lineup in a public scrimmage against North Park, securing a decisive 106-71 victory at the Banterra Center. This event marked the first opportunity for fans to see the Salukis in action this season.

Transfer guard Elijah Elliott led the scoring for Southern Illinois with 21 points, along with four assists and three rebounds. Kennard Davis Jr. and Jarrett Hensley contributed 13 points each, while Ali Dibba and Rolyns Aligbe added 10 points apiece. All 13 players who participated scored during the game.

Hensley initiated the scoring for Southern Illinois shortly after the start, although North Park briefly took a lead following a three-pointer. However, SIU responded with a 14-3 run that established their control over the game.

The Salukis shot an impressive 59.4 percent from the field in the first half, assisted by effective ball movement resulting in 13 assists on 19 made baskets. By halftime, they had secured a substantial lead of 53-32, with Elliott contributing significantly by scoring 13 points in this period.

Continuing their dominance into the second half, SIU focused on fast-paced play and capitalized on opportunities in the paint, scoring a total of 66 points there. They also managed to collect 22 points from offensive rebounds.

Overall, Southern Illinois outrebounded North Park significantly with a tally of 53-24. Davion Sykes led SIU's rebounding efforts with ten boards, supported by Antwaun Massey and Tyler Bey who came close to double figures with nine and eight rebounds respectively.

The team finished shooting at an efficiency of 63 percent from the field and made half of their attempts from beyond the arc (7-for-14). Their free throw performance was also strong at 17-for-23.

Davante Robinson stood out for North Park by leading his team with 13 points, including three successful three-point shots.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will commence their regular season against College of Charleston on November 4 in Sioux Falls as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase. The match will be held at Sandford Pentagon and is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT; it will be available for streaming on YouTube and X.

For ongoing updates about Southern Illinois basketball, fans can visit SIUSalukis.com or follow them on various social media platforms including X (@SIU_Basketball), Instagram (@SIU_Basketball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/SIUBasketball). Additionally, supporters can download the "Salukis" mobile app from either App Store or Google Play Store.