NCAAB · Final

Southern Illinois Edges Northern Iowa in Close Contest

Saturday, February 21, 2026, 6:00 PM ET · McLeod Center

Southern Illinois Salukis 59, Northern Iowa Panthers 57, 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 Northern Iowa Panthers?

Southern Illinois Salukis beat Northern Iowa Panthers 59-57 at McLeod Center on February 21, 2026.

Who was favored in Southern Illinois Salukis vs Northern Iowa Panthers?

Northern Iowa Panthers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -305 (about 75% implied). The underdog won.

In a tightly contested matchup, the Southern Illinois Salukis narrowly defeated the Northern Iowa Panthers with a final score of 59-57. The game took place at the McLeod Center and was marked by a strong defensive effort from both teams, ultimately leading to a low-scoring affair. The Salukis' victory adds to their recent momentum, having won their last game, while the Panthers were looking to build on a two-game winning streak before this loss.

The Panthers entered the game with a home record of 18-11, showcasing a solid performance at home throughout the season. In their last ten games, they had a record of 6-4, with an average of 70.3 points scored and 63.1 points allowed. Their recent form included notable victories against Indiana State (81-60) and Drake (86-62), but they also faced setbacks against Belmont (86-91) and Southern Illinois earlier in the season (50-65). Notably, the Panthers had a strong home record, going 4-0 in their last four home games prior to this contest.

In contrast, the Salukis came into the game with an overall record of 14-15 and a recent record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games. They averaged 62.1 points scored and allowed 58.4 points during this stretch. Their recent performances included a win against Drake (66-61) and a loss to Bradley (60-70). Southern Illinois had a mixed away record of 3-1 in their last four away games, indicating they were capable of competing effectively outside their home venue.

Historically, the matchup between these two teams has been competitive, with Southern Illinois leading the head-to-head record 2-1 over the last two seasons. Their previous meetings included a decisive win for the Salukis earlier in the season, where they defeated the Panthers 65-50. The Panthers had previously won against Southern Illinois at home in December 2024 with a score of 78-67, making this game particularly significant as both teams aimed to assert dominance.

In terms of player availability, the block does not provide specific details about injuries affecting either team, but both squads were likely to field their key players given the importance of the game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Panthers favored by 6.5 points, with a total set at 134.5. The money line indicated that Northern Iowa was -305, while Southern Illinois was at +245, reflecting the perceived strength of the home team.

Conditions during the game were conducive to a competitive atmosphere, with both teams displaying strong defensive capabilities. The scoring plays highlighted the Salukis' ability to maintain a lead in the second half, with key contributions from players like Will Hornseth and Quel'Ron House, who made crucial baskets that helped secure the win. The Panthers, despite their efforts, were unable to overcome the deficit, with Trey Campbell leading the charge in the latter stages but ultimately falling short.

As the game concluded, the Panthers' chances of winning were assessed at 0.0%, underscoring the challenges they faced in closing the gap against a determined Southern Illinois squad. This game not only showcased the competitive spirit of both teams but also set the stage for future encounters as they continue their respective seasons.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	UNI -6.5	134.5 o -110 / u -110	Southern Illinois Salukis +245 · Northern Iowa Panthers -305

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsTrey Campbell16Northern Iowa Panthers
AssistsTrey Campbell2Northern Iowa Panthers
ReboundsMax Weisbrod4Northern Iowa Panthers
PointsQuel'Ron House21Southern Illinois Salukis
AssistsQuel'Ron House5Southern Illinois Salukis
ReboundsRolyns Aligbe6Southern Illinois Salukis

Recent form

Northern Iowa Panthers

Last 10: 6-4Streak W270.3 scored · 63.1 allowed per game4-0 at home

W81-60at Indiana State SycamoresFeb 19
W86-62vs Drake BulldogsFeb 15
L86-91at Belmont BruinsFeb 13
W89-60at Murray State RacersFeb 10
W61-49vs Bradley BravesFeb 7
W71-55vs Evansville Purple AcesJan 31
L50-65at Southern Illinois SalukisJan 29
W81-76vs Murray State RacersJan 24
L54-59at Illinois State RedbirdsJan 22
L44-54at Valparaiso BeaconsJan 17

Southern Illinois Salukis

Last 10: 5-4-1Streak W162.1 scored · 58.4 allowed per game3-1 away

W66-61at Drake BulldogsFeb 19
L60-70vs Bradley BravesFeb 15
W86-60vs Evansville Purple AcesFeb 13
W80-65at Indiana State SycamoresFeb 10
L81-91vs Murray State RacersFeb 7
W54-50at Illinois State RedbirdsFeb 4
L66-68vs UIC FlamesFeb 1
W65-50vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 29
D0-0at Evansville Purple AcesJan 25
L63-69at Valparaiso BeaconsJan 22

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	Northern Iowa Panthers
Field goals	26-51	23-52
Field goal %	51	44
Three-pointers	6-16	4-17
Three-point %	38	24
Free throws	1-3	7-9
Free throw %	33	78
Rebounds	29	26
Offensive rebounds	9	9
Defensive rebounds	20	17
Assists	15	9
Steals	8	12
Blocks	3	3
Turnovers	18	14
Team turnovers	2	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	12	19
Fast-break points	2	6
Points in the paint	36	32
Fouls	12	11
Largest lead	11	2
Lead changes	2	2
Time in front	89	4

How the scoring went

1st Half23-15Quel'Ron House makes layup (Drew Steffe assists)
1st Half24-15Quel'Ron House makes free throw 1 of 1
1st Half24-17Will Hornseth makes layup (Leon Bond III assists)
1st Half26-17Jaheem Webber makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Davion Sykes assists)
1st Half26-19Will Hornseth makes layup
1st Half26-22Max Weisbrod makes 27-foot three point jumper
1st Half28-22Quel'Ron House makes 15-foot jumper (Jaheem Webber assists)
1st Half30-22Davion Sykes makes layup (Quel'Ron House assists)
1st Half30-24Trey Campbell makes layup (Will Hornseth assists)
1st Half30-26Tristan Smith makes layup (Leon Bond III assists)
1st Half30-28Leon Bond III makes 5-foot dunk
1st Half30-30Trey Campbell makes 16-foot jumper
1st Half33-30Drew Steffe makes 24-foot three point jumper (Max Pikaar assists)
2nd Half33-33Max Weisbrod makes 24-foot three point jumper (Trey Campbell assists)
2nd Half35-33Quel'Ron House makes layup
2nd Half35-34Will Hornseth makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half35-35Will Hornseth makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half35-37Will Hornseth makes layup
2nd Half37-37Prince Aligbe makes layup
2nd Half37-38Will Hornseth makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half39-38Rolyns Aligbe makes layup (Quel'Ron House assists)
2nd Half42-38Drew Steffe makes 23-foot three point jumper (Quel'Ron House assists)
2nd Half42-40Tristan Smith makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Ismael Diouf assists)
2nd Half45-40Rolyns Aligbe makes 27-foot three point jumper (Drew Steffe assists)
2nd Half45-42Tristan Smith makes 5-foot floating jump shot
2nd Half47-42Quel'Ron House makes 15-foot jumper
2nd Half49-42Jalen Haynes makes layup
2nd Half51-42Quel'Ron House makes layup
2nd Half53-42Davion Sykes makes 4-foot dunk (Rolyns Aligbe assists)
2nd Half53-44Trey Campbell makes 13-foot jumper
2nd Half55-44Davion Sykes makes layup (Drew Steffe assists)
2nd Half55-46Will Hornseth makes layup (Ben Schwieger assists)
2nd Half55-49Will Hornseth makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half55-48Will Hornseth makes layup
2nd Half57-49Quel'Ron House makes 8-foot jumper
2nd Half57-51Trey Campbell makes 9-foot jumper
2nd Half59-51Quel'Ron House makes layup
2nd Half59-53Trey Campbell makes layup
2nd Half59-55Trey Campbell makes layup
2nd Half59-57Trey Campbell makes layup

Win probability

Above the line favours Northern Iowa Panthers, below favours Southern Illinois Salukis.