Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois men's basketball team is set to face UIC on Saturday afternoon at Banterra Center. This game is a significant fixture leading up to Arch Madness, with the tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

Tickets are available starting at $6.18 without additional fees and can be purchased through SIUSalukis.com or by calling 877-SALUKIS. A special promotion using the code "The618" offers tickets at this price point as part of a celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the Banterra Center. The event will feature music and videos from the 1970s, and two students will have the chance to win free tuition through half-court shots.

Broadcasting duties for ESPN Plus will be handled by Russ Eisenstein and Adam Emmenecker. Local radio coverage is available on 101.5 CIL-FM, the Saluki Radio Network, and various apps, with commentary from Luke Martin and Chris Carr. Fans can also access live stats via SIUSalukis.com.

Southern Illinois has won six out of their last eight games, currently holding an 11-13 overall record and standing 6-7 in the MVC. They share seventh place in the standings with Indiana State and Evansville. The team recently achieved four consecutive MVC road victories, a feat not seen since the 2015-16 season.

The Salukis made a season-high of 15 three-pointers against Evansville, tying for sixth place in program history for most threes in a single game. They rank fourth in rebounds per game within their conference.

Key players include Ali Dibba, who averages 16.7 points per game, and Kennard Davis Jr., who averages 15.4 points per game. Both players have been consistent scorers throughout the season.

UIC enters Saturday's contest with a record of 14-9 overall and holds a conference record of 7-6 after losing their last three games. Javon Jackson leads UIC with an average of 13.3 points per game.

Historically, Southern Illinois leads UIC in their series matchups with an all-time record of 11-5. In their most recent encounter earlier this season, Southern Illinois rallied late to secure an 89-85 victory over UIC in Chicago.

For more information on Southern Illinois basketball, fans can visit SIUSalukis.com or follow the team's social media accounts on various platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.