Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University men's basketball team will host a free exhibition game against Austin Peay on Friday, October 17 at Banterra Center. The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., with both admission and parking offered at no cost. Seating will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fans attending the game will have an early opportunity to see the Salukis as they prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Head coach Scott Nagy encouraged community support, stating, "This is a great opportunity for fans to bring energy to Banterra Center. We need Saluki Nation and the Dawg Pound in the stands — not just for this game, but all season long. When this place is full and loud, it gives our guys a real edge."

The Salukis are returning six players from last season: Damien Mayo Jr., Jaheem Webber, Drew Steffe, Jorge Moreno, Rolyns Aligbe and Davion Sykes. New additions to the roster include Isaiah Stafford, Jalen Haynes, Prince Aligbe, Max Pikaar, Quel'Ron House, Daniel Pauliukonis, Luke Walsh and Caden Hawkins.

Coach Nagy commented on his team’s prospects: "This is a fun group of guys, and we expect to play an exciting brand of basketball."

Austin Peay concluded their previous season with a record of 14–19 overall and 8–10 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Their lineup features sophomore Tate McCubbin who led in rebounds last year with 146 and was fourth in scoring with an average of 10.6 points per game.

Season tickets for SIU men’s basketball are currently available starting at $99 through saluk.is/MBBTickets. Single-game tickets are expected to go on sale soon. Ticket inquiries can be made by calling 618-453-2000.

Updates about the Salukis can be found on SIUSalukis.com or by following their social media channels on X (@SIU_Basketball), Instagram (@SIU_Basketball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/SIUBasketball). A mobile app named "Salukis" is also available via the App Store or Google Play Store.