Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's basketball team is set to face Indiana State in the opening round of Arch Madness on Thursday. The game will take place at noon at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. A victory for the Salukis would see them advance to play top-seeded Drake on Friday.

The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN Plus, with Scott Warmann and Kevin Lehman providing commentary. Local radio coverage will be available on 101.5 CIL-FM and through various digital platforms, including the Saluki Radio Network and the Varsity Network App.

Kennard Davis Jr. has been recognized with two Missouri Valley Conference postseason honors: Second Team All-MVC and a spot on the Most Improved Team. Ali Dibba received Third Team All-MVC recognition.

The Salukis rank third in their conference for rebounds per game and offensive boards per game. They are also second in fastbreak points per game within the MVC.

Dibba and Davis Jr. have shown strong performances this season, ranking third and fourth respectively in scoring within the MVC. Jarrett Hensley contributes an average of 10.6 points per game, while freshman Drew Steffe has been impressive recently, particularly from behind the arc.

Indiana State enters this contest with a record of 14-17 overall under first-year head coach Matthew Graves. The Sycamores lead the league in three-point attempts and fast break points per game.

Historically, Southern Illinois leads their series against Indiana State 92-54 but has struggled in recent meetings, winning only four of their last ten encounters.

In their most recent meeting, Indiana State defeated Southern Illinois 95-77, with Kennard Davis Jr. leading his team with 19 points.

Fans can stay updated on Salukis' news via SIUSalukis.com or follow them on social media platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook.