Southern Illinois Defeats Northern Iowa 65-50
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Banterra Center
Southern Illinois Salukis 65, Northern Iowa Panthers 50, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Northern Iowa Panthers vs Southern Illinois Salukis?
Southern Illinois Salukis beat Northern Iowa Panthers 65-50 at Banterra Center on January 28, 2026.
Who was favored in Northern Iowa Panthers vs Southern Illinois Salukis?
Northern Iowa Panthers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -115 (about 53% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive matchup, the Southern Illinois Salukis triumphed over the Northern Iowa Panthers with a final score of 65-50 at the Banterra Center. This victory marks a significant moment for Southern Illinois, who improved their record to 10-12, while Northern Iowa fell to 13-10. The game showcased Southern Illinois' ability to dominate on their home court, a crucial factor in their performance.
Southern Illinois entered the game with a recent record of 2-7-1 over their last ten games, struggling with an average of 62.2 points scored and 65.7 points allowed. Their recent form included a streak of four consecutive losses, with their last five games yielding an average of just 52.2 points scored. In contrast, Northern Iowa had a record of 4-6 in their last ten games and came into the fixture on a one-game winning streak after defeating Murray State 81-76. They averaged 62.7 points scored and allowed 63.6 points during this stretch, indicating a closely matched scoring output.
When looking at home versus away performance, Southern Illinois had a home record of 2-3 in their last five games, while Northern Iowa struggled on the road with a 1-4 record. This home advantage played a pivotal role in the Salukis' performance against the Panthers.
In their previous meetings, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa had split their last two encounters, with each team winning one game. The most recent matchup before this game took place on January 19, 2025, where Southern Illinois won decisively 73-49 at home. This history likely provided Southern Illinois with additional motivation heading into this game.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but both teams would have been mindful of their lineups given the importance of the matchup. The betting market reflected a close contest, with DraftKings listing Northern Iowa as a slight favorite with a spread of 1.5 points and a total of 130.5 for the game. The moneyline odds were set at -105.0 for Southern Illinois and -115.0 for Northern Iowa, indicating a competitive environment.
Conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but the indoor setting of the Banterra Center typically provides a controlled environment for basketball, allowing both teams to focus on their strategies without external weather factors impacting play.
As the game unfolded, Southern Illinois took control, showcasing a strong defensive effort that limited Northern Iowa's scoring opportunities. Key moments included a series of scoring plays in the second half, where Southern Illinois extended their lead with contributions from players like Prince Aligbe and Quel'Ron House, who made crucial shots to maintain their advantage. The Salukis' ability to capitalize on their home court advantage and execute their game plan effectively was evident as they consistently outperformed Northern Iowa in crucial moments.
Overall, this game highlighted Southern Illinois' resilience and ability to perform under pressure, especially at home, while Northern Iowa will need to regroup and address their away performance as they look to bounce back in upcoming games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNI -1.5 | 130.5 o -110 / u -110 | Northern Iowa Panthers -115 · Southern Illinois Salukis -105 |
Leaders
- PointsRolyns Aligbe21Southern Illinois Salukis
- AssistsQuel'Ron House5Southern Illinois Salukis
- ReboundsRolyns Aligbe10Southern Illinois Salukis
- PointsWill Hornseth14Northern Iowa Panthers
- AssistsMax Weisbrod4Northern Iowa Panthers
- ReboundsBen Schwieger7Northern Iowa Panthers
Recent form
Southern Illinois Salukis
Last 10: 2-7-1Streak D162.2 scored · 65.7 allowed per game1-3 at home
- D0-0at Evansville Purple AcesJan 25
- L63-69at Valparaiso BeaconsJan 22
- L68-73vs Belmont BruinsJan 18
- L73-76vs Drake BulldogsJan 15
- L57-70at UIC FlamesJan 8
- W68-67at Belmont BruinsJan 4
- W75-70vs Valparaiso BeaconsJan 1
- L81-84at Murray State RacersDec 30
- L69-73at Bradley BravesDec 21
- L68-75vs Illinois State RedbirdsDec 19
Northern Iowa Panthers
Last 10: 4-6Streak W162.7 scored · 63.6 allowed per game1-4 away
- W81-76vs Murray State RacersJan 24
- L54-59at Illinois State RedbirdsJan 22
- L44-54at Valparaiso BeaconsJan 17
- L61-69vs UIC FlamesJan 14
- L69-75at Bradley BravesJan 10
- L65-78vs Belmont BruinsJan 8
- W62-48at Evansville Purple AcesJan 4
- W75-66vs Indiana State SycamoresJan 2
- W58-48vs Valparaiso BeaconsDec 30
- L58-63at Saint Mary's GaelsDec 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Northern Iowa Panthers | Southern Illinois Salukis |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 19-47 | 25-53 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 4-17 | 6-15 |
| Three-point % | 24 | 40 |
| Free throws | 8-13 | 9-19 |
| Free throw % | 62 | 47 |
| Rebounds | 29 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 3 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 28 |
| Assists | 8 | 15 |
| Steals | 6 | 10 |
| Blocks | 2 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 3 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 26 |
| Fouls | 14 | 12 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 17 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 16 | 74 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half19-27Will Hornseth makes 3-foot dunk (Max Weisbrod assists)
- 2nd Half19-28Prince Aligbe makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half19-29Prince Aligbe makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half19-30Rolyns Aligbe makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half21-30RJ Taylor makes layup
- 2nd Half21-32Drew Steffe makes 11-foot jumper (Rolyns Aligbe assists)
- 2nd Half21-35Rolyns Aligbe makes 24-foot three point jumper (Drew Steffe assists)
- 2nd Half24-35RJ Taylor makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ben Schwieger assists)
- 2nd Half26-35Ben Schwieger makes layup
- 2nd Half27-35Will Hornseth makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half28-35Will Hornseth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half28-37Rolyns Aligbe makes layup (Quel'Ron House assists)
- 2nd Half29-37Will Hornseth makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half29-39Quel'Ron House makes 15-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half31-39Will Hornseth makes layup
- 2nd Half31-40Prince Aligbe makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half31-41Prince Aligbe makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half34-41Ben Schwieger makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half34-43Quel'Ron House makes 8-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half36-43Ben Schwieger makes layup (Max Weisbrod assists)
- 2nd Half38-43Will Hornseth makes layup
- 2nd Half38-45Davion Sykes makes 2-foot dunk (Quel'Ron House assists)
- 2nd Half38-48Rolyns Aligbe makes 23-foot three point jumper (Davion Sykes assists)
- 2nd Half40-48Will Hornseth makes layup (Max Weisbrod assists)
- 2nd Half41-48Will Hornseth makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half41-49Quel'Ron House makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-51Davion Sykes makes 2-foot dunk (Quel'Ron House assists)
- 2nd Half44-51Max Weisbrod makes 26-foot three point jumper (RJ Taylor assists)
- 2nd Half44-53Davion Sykes makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half44-55Quel'Ron House makes 16-foot pullup jump shot (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half44-56Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-57Jalen Haynes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-59Damien Mayo Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half46-59Leon Bond III makes 2-foot dunk (Ismael Diouf assists)
- 2nd Half46-61Prince Aligbe makes layup
- 2nd Half46-63Quel'Ron House makes 8-foot floating jump shot (Prince Aligbe assists)
- 2nd Half47-63Geon Hutchins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-63Geon Hutchins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-63Geon Hutchins makes 15-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half50-65Rolyns Aligbe makes 1-foot dunk (Quel'Ron House assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Southern Illinois Salukis, below favours Northern Iowa Panthers.
Venue
- Banterra CenterCarbondale, IL
- Attendance3670
- OfficialsJeff Campbell, Antinio Petty, Chris Pasci
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