Southern Illinois Edges Illinois State in Close Contest
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · CEFCU Arena
Southern Illinois Salukis 54, Illinois State Redbirds 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 Southern Illinois Salukis vs Illinois State Redbirds?
Southern Illinois Salukis beat Illinois State Redbirds 54-50 at CEFCU Arena on February 3, 2026.
Who was favored in Southern Illinois Salukis vs Illinois State Redbirds?
Illinois State Redbirds were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -440 (about 81% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Southern Illinois Salukis defeated the Illinois State Redbirds with a final score of 54-50. This game, held at the CEFCU Arena, showcased the Salukis' resilience as they overcame the Redbirds on their home court.
The fixture was significant as it featured two teams with contrasting records. The Illinois State Redbirds entered the game with a home record of 15-8, while the Southern Illinois Salukis had a record of 10-13. The Redbirds had been performing reasonably well at home, boasting a recent record of 6-4 over their last ten games, with an average of 73.6 points scored and 66.3 points allowed. In contrast, the Salukis struggled with a record of 3-6-1 in their last ten games, averaging only 61.6 points scored and 62.7 points allowed.
Recent form indicated that Illinois State was on a slight upswing, having won their last game against the Murray State Racers, while Southern Illinois was coming off a loss to the UIC Flames. The home team had a strong performance at home, with a record of 4-1 in their last five games, while the Salukis had only managed one win in their last five outings, with an average score of 52.4 points.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Southern Illinois had a slight edge, leading the series 2-1 against Illinois State in their last three meetings. The most recent encounter prior to this game was on December 19, 2025, where Southern Illinois won 75-68. Their previous meeting in the 2025 season saw Illinois State triumph with a score of 85-54.
Injury reports did not indicate any significant absences affecting either team, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. The market had Illinois State favored in this matchup, with DraftKings pricing the Redbirds at -8.5 on the spread, indicating expectations for a comfortable win. The total for the game was set at 140.5, reflecting a belief in a moderately high-scoring affair.
Conditions during the game were typical for indoor basketball, with no adverse weather conditions impacting play. Fans were treated to a competitive atmosphere as both teams fought for crucial points.
As the game unfolded, Southern Illinois took control in the second half, highlighted by key plays from Jalen Haynes, who contributed significantly to the Salukis' scoring. The Salukis built a lead that the Redbirds struggled to overcome, despite a late surge that brought them within striking distance. The final moments saw Southern Illinois maintain their composure, ultimately sealing the victory.
This matchup not only showcased the tactical battle between the two teams but also highlighted the importance of momentum in college basketball. The victory for Southern Illinois could serve as a turning point in their season, while Illinois State will need to regroup and address their scoring issues moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ILST -8.5 | 140.5 o -108 / u -112 | Southern Illinois Salukis +340 · Illinois State Redbirds -440 |
Leaders
- PointsChase Walker12Illinois State Redbirds
- AssistsJohnny Kinziger4Illinois State Redbirds
- ReboundsJohnny Kinziger5Illinois State Redbirds
- PointsQuel'Ron House22Southern Illinois Salukis
- AssistsJalen Haynes4Southern Illinois Salukis
- ReboundsRolyns Aligbe12Southern Illinois Salukis
Recent form
Illinois State Redbirds
Last 10: 6-4Streak W173.6 scored · 66.3 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W70-65at Murray State RacersJan 29
- L69-80at Belmont BruinsJan 24
- W59-54vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 22
- W88-62vs Bradley BravesJan 17
- L89-94at Indiana State SycamoresJan 15
- L59-63vs UIC FlamesJan 10
- L71-77at Valparaiso BeaconsJan 8
- W73-47vs Evansville Purple AcesJan 1
- W73-56at Drake BulldogsDec 30
- W85-65vs Indiana State SycamoresDec 21
Southern Illinois Salukis
Last 10: 3-6-1Streak L161.6 scored · 62.7 allowed per game1-3 away
- L66-68vs UIC FlamesFeb 1
- W65-50vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 29
- 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
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 | Southern Illinois Salukis | Illinois State Redbirds |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-52 | 19-60 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 32 |
| Three-pointers | 1-11 | 6-22 |
| Three-point % | 9 | 27 |
| Free throws | 11-15 | 6-10 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 60 |
| Rebounds | 41 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 34 | 27 |
| Assists | 11 | 13 |
| Steals | 7 | 6 |
| Blocks | 4 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 24 |
| Fouls | 18 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 51 | 28 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half19-13Rolyns Aligbe makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half19-14Ty'Reek Coleman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half19-15Ty'Reek Coleman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half21-15Quel'Ron House makes layup
- 1st Half21-18Jack Daugherty makes 24-foot three point jumper (Landon Wolf assists)
- 1st Half21-20Landon Wolf makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 1st Half22-20Jalen Haynes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half22-23Landon Wolf makes 24-foot three point jumper (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 1st Half22-24Landon Wolf makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half24-24Quel'Ron House makes 8-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half26-24Rolyns Aligbe makes layup (Drew Steffe assists)
- 2nd Half26-26Brandon Lieb makes layup (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 2nd Half26-28Chase Walker makes layup (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 2nd Half28-28Drew Steffe makes layup (Rolyns Aligbe assists)
- 2nd Half28-29Chase Walker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half28-31Chase Walker makes 6-foot hook shot (Mason Klabo assists)
- 2nd Half28-33Chase Walker makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half30-33Quel'Ron House makes 18-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half32-33Quel'Ron House makes driving layup (Davion Sykes assists)
- 2nd Half32-35Johnny Kinziger makes layup (Chase Walker assists)
- 2nd Half35-35Rolyns Aligbe makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half37-35Davion Sykes makes layup (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half37-37Chase Walker makes 10-foot floating jump shot (Landon Moore assists)
- 2nd Half37-39Landon Moore makes driving layup
- 2nd Half37-41Brandon Lieb makes 3-foot dunk (Johnny Kinziger assists)
- 2nd Half39-41Rolyns Aligbe makes layup (Drew Steffe assists)
- 2nd Half40-41Quel'Ron House makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-41Quel'Ron House makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-41Quel'Ron House makes 9-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half44-41Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-43Johnny Kinziger makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half46-43Quel'Ron House makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half46-44Johnny Kinziger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-44Jalen Haynes makes layup
- 2nd Half49-44Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half51-44Quel'Ron House makes 12-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half53-44Rolyns Aligbe makes 1-foot dunk (Quel'Ron House assists)
- 2nd Half53-47Johnny Kinziger makes 23-foot three point jumper (Landon Wolf assists)
- 2nd Half54-47Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-50Ty'Reek Coleman makes 25-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Illinois State Redbirds, below favours Southern Illinois Salukis.
Venue
- CEFCU ArenaNormal, IL
- Attendance4766
- OfficialsTyler Kumpf, John Hampton, Brooks Wells
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