EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Completing the first half on a 30-10 run, Southern Illinois pulled away for an 80-53 victory over the University of Evansville men's basketball team in Wednesday's Missouri Valley Conference opener at the Ford Center. Box Score Southern Illinois shot 60.7% for the season while hitting 12 of their 24 attempts from long range. The Purple Aces shot 40.4% in the game with Antoine Smith Jr. recording a team-high 12 points. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. scored 10 while Yacine Toumi finished with eight. SIU was led by Lance Jones, who scored 17 points. Xavier Johnson posted 14.
UE falls to SIU in Valley opener
