Valparaiso Beacons Defeat Southern Illinois Salukis 69-63
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Athletics-Recreation Center
Valparaiso Beacons 69, Southern Illinois Salukis 63, 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 Valparaiso Beacons?
Valparaiso Beacons beat Southern Illinois Salukis 69-63 at Athletics-Recreation Center on January 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Southern Illinois Salukis vs Valparaiso Beacons?
Valparaiso Beacons were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -135 (about 57% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Valparaiso Beacons emerged victorious against the Southern Illinois Salukis with a final score of 69-63. This game, held at the Athletics-Recreation Center, showcased both teams' struggles and determination, making it a noteworthy fixture in the NCAAB landscape. The Beacons improved their record to 11-10, while the Salukis fell to 8-13.
Valparaiso entered the game with a home record of 10-10 and had recently experienced a mixed bag of results, going 3-7 in their last ten games, but they were riding a one-game winning streak after a victory against the Northern Iowa Panthers. The Beacons averaged 68.7 points scored and allowed 72.1 points per game over their last ten outings. Their last five games showed a slight improvement, averaging 70.0 points scored and 68.8 points allowed. At home, they had a record of 3-2 in their last five games, indicating a stronger performance on their own court.
On the other side, the Southern Illinois Salukis struggled with their recent form, recording a 3-7 record in their last ten games and currently on a three-game losing streak. They averaged 72.6 points scored and 73.5 points allowed during this stretch. Their away performance was particularly concerning, as they recorded only one win in their last five away games, with an overall away record of 1-4. The Salukis had previously defeated Valparaiso 75-70 in their last meeting on January 1, 2026, which added some tension to this rematch.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but it is common for teams to face challenges with roster depth as the season progresses. The absence of key players can significantly impact a team's performance, particularly in tight games like this one.
Betting lines from DraftKings indicated that Valparaiso was favored by 1.5 points, with a total set at 142.5. The odds reflected the competitive nature of the matchup, as both teams were looking to gain momentum in the conference standings.
The game conditions were typical for a winter basketball matchup, with both teams needing to adapt to the indoor environment of the Athletics-Recreation Center. Fans were treated to a display of skill and strategy as both teams battled for supremacy.
Key moments in the game included a significant three-point jumper by Caden Hawkins, which helped the Beacons maintain their lead in the second half. Rakim Chaney contributed crucial free throws down the stretch, while Jalen Haynes also made important plays, including a driving layup that kept the Salukis at bay. The scoring plays highlighted the tension and back-and-forth nature of the contest, as the teams exchanged baskets in a bid to secure victory.
Overall, the Beacons' ability to capitalize on their home advantage and execute in critical moments proved decisive in their win over the Salukis. The final score of 69-63 reflects the competitive spirit of both teams, with Valparaiso earning a much-needed victory as they look to build on this success moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | VAL -1.5 | 142.5 o -115 / u -105 | Southern Illinois Salukis +114 · Valparaiso Beacons -135 |
Leaders
- PointsJustus McNair17Valparaiso Beacons
- AssistsRakim Chaney6Valparaiso Beacons
- ReboundsShon Tupuola5Valparaiso Beacons
- PointsJalen Haynes17Southern Illinois Salukis
- AssistsJalen Haynes5Southern Illinois Salukis
- ReboundsPrince Aligbe8Southern Illinois Salukis
Recent form
Valparaiso Beacons
Last 10: 3-7Streak W168.7 scored · 72.1 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W54-44vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 17
- L74-78at Belmont BruinsJan 14
- L79-92at Murray State RacersJan 10
- W77-71vs Illinois State RedbirdsJan 8
- W66-59vs UIC FlamesJan 4
- L70-75at Southern Illinois SalukisJan 1
- L48-58at Northern Iowa PanthersDec 30
- L79-85vs Murray State RacersDec 21
- L70-86at Northwestern WildcatsDec 17
- L70-73vs UNC Wilmington SeahawksDec 13
Southern Illinois Salukis
Last 10: 3-7Streak L372.6 scored · 73.5 allowed per game1-4 away
- 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
- L84-93at Richmond SpidersDec 13
- W83-54vs UT Martin SkyhawksDec 11
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 | Valparaiso Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-51 | 21-43 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 3-14 | 7-16 |
| Three-point % | 21 | 44 |
| Free throws | 18-30 | 20-30 |
| Free throw % | 60 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 4 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 27 |
| Assists | 11 | 14 |
| Steals | 6 | 6 |
| Blocks | 0 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 22 |
| Fouls | 24 | 22 |
| Largest lead | 4 | 21 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 10 | 85 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half32-43Rolyns Aligbe makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half34-43Jalen Haynes makes driving layup
- 2nd Half34-45JT Pettigrew makes 7-foot jumper (Rakim Chaney assists)
- 2nd Half34-47Owen Dease makes 10-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half36-47Drew Steffe makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half36-49Shon Tupuola makes 1-foot dunk (JT Pettigrew assists)
- 2nd Half38-49Jalen Haynes makes driving layup
- 2nd Half39-49Davion Sykes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-49Davion Sykes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-50Rakim Chaney makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-50Prince Aligbe makes 2-foot dunk (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half42-52Justus McNair makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-52Rolyns Aligbe makes 1-foot dunk (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half45-52Damien Mayo Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-53Brody Whitaker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-54Brody Whitaker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-57Brody Whitaker makes 27-foot three point jumper (Shon Tupuola assists)
- 2nd Half47-57Prince Aligbe makes layup (Damien Mayo Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half48-57Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-57Jalen Haynes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-58Brody Whitaker makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half49-59Brody Whitaker makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half49-60Brody Whitaker makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half49-61JT Pettigrew makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-61Jalen Haynes makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-61Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half52-62Owen Dease makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-63Owen Dease makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-63Jalen Haynes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-64Brody Whitaker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-65Brody Whitaker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-65Rolyns Aligbe makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half59-65Caden Hawkins makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jalen Haynes assists)
- 2nd Half59-66Rakim Chaney makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-67Rakim Chaney makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-67Jalen Haynes makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-67Jalen Haynes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-67Jalen Haynes makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-68Brody Whitaker makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-69Brody Whitaker makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Valparaiso Beacons, below favours Southern Illinois Salukis.
Venue
- Athletics-Recreation CenterValparaiso, IN
- Attendance1366
- OfficialsMichael Greenstein, Jeff Malham, John Jenkins Jr.
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