Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois basketball team is set to face Oklahoma State on Thursday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The game, which will be broadcast on ESPN Plus, concludes a two-for-one contract signed before the 2022 season.

First-year head coach Scott Nagy leads the Salukis with 30 years of experience and 14 consecutive winning seasons. "Nagy ranks No. 17 in wins (578) among active Division I head coaches," according to the team's release. The Salukis have three returning players: Kennard Davis Jr., Jarrett Hensley, and Sheridan Sharp, while adding 11 new players this summer.

Kennard Davis Jr. and Ali Dibba received Third Team Preseason All-MVC honors. Davis Jr. is currently leading the nation in steals with five per game and tied for fifth in program history with seven steals against Missouri S&T.

Oklahoma State enters the matchup with a 2-0 record under first-year coach Steve Lutz, scoring an average of 84.5 points per game. Bryce Thomas and Marchelus Avery lead their scoring efforts at 16.5 points per game each.

Southern Illinois holds a historical advantage over Oklahoma State with a record of 6-2 all-time against them. The last encounter saw Southern defeat OSU in Carbondale last year.

In their recent victory over Missouri S&T, Kennard Davis Jr.'s performance was notable as he nearly achieved a triple-double with his contributions of points, assists, and steals.

The Salukis' coaching staff brings extensive experience to the bench, boasting over 100 years collectively among six coaches.

Scott Nagy's career began as a player at NCAA Division II Delta State where he set records for assists both in his career and single-season performances.

MVC teams have shown strength historically in NCAA tournaments with notable victories against Power conferences since 1994.

Tickets for Southern Illinois games are available starting at $10 for single games or through various mini-plan options offering flexibility for fans wishing to attend multiple games throughout the season.

For updates on Southern Illinois basketball, fans can follow SIUSalukis.com or engage via social media platforms including X (@SIU_Basketball), Instagram (@SIU_Basketball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/SIUBasketball).