Boxscore

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Evansville owned the beginning and end of this game, but Southern Illinois dominated the middle portion to hang on for a 70-63 win Saturday night over the Purple Aces.  UE is now 11-4 overall and 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference.  SIU is 7-9 and 2-3. 

The Aces host Northern Iowa Tuesday to begin a three-game homestand at Roberts Stadium, where they are a perfect 10-0 this season.

Evansville jumped out to a nine-point lead twice in the first half behind the shooting of Jason Holsinger and Shy Ely, who combined for 25 of the Aces' 35 points in the first half.  But the Salukis' 5-for-9 three-point shooting in the first half brought them back from a 24-15 deficit to a 39-35 halftime lead.  They didn't stop there.  Spurred by three-pointers from Bryan Mullins and Ryan Hare, Southern Illinois scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 47-35 lead.  

Evansville finally cut the Saluki lead below eight for the first time when Shy Ely hit a three-pointer with 5:11 to play.  The Aces eventually made it a three-point game at 64-61 in the final three minutes, and had a chance to tie the game on Ely's three-point attempt with 90 seconds to go.  But Ely missed and Southern Illinois freshman Kevin Dillard responded with a driving layup to make it 66-61 with 1:05 to play.  After Nate Garner missed the front end of a one-and-one with 53 seconds left, Wesley Clemmons put the game away for SIU with a bucket to make it 68-61.

"They just executed better than us," said Evansville coach Marty Simmons.  "We got beat to a few loose balls and long rebounds.  We started out very well, but we didn't sustain our effort and our aggressiveness.  We have to do that to be successful."

Ely led all scorers with 22 points and Holsinger added 16.  Garner also reached double figures with 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.  Tony Boyle led the Salukis with 14 points and 10 rebounds.