Indiana State Basketball Falls to Southern Illinois, 80-65, Prepares for Murray State Matchup
Indiana State men’s basketball suffered an 80-65 defeat against Southern Illinois Monday night at the Hulman Center, despite a strong second-half performance from Bruno Alocen. The Sycamores now turn their attention to a Thursday evening contest against Murray State, scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tipoff.
First-Half Struggles Plague Sycamores
The game began as a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets early on. Sterling Young contributed five of Indiana State’s initial six points, and a subsequent 6-2 run, fueled by free throws, gave the Sycamores a 12-8 advantage. However, Southern Illinois quickly responded with six unanswered points. A three-pointer from Camp Wagner briefly restored Indiana State’s lead at 15-14.
The Salukis then embarked on an 11-0 run, momentarily seizing control of the game. Wagner again halted the opposition’s momentum with another three-pointer, igniting a 12-4 Indiana State rally. Baskets from Cooper Bean, Markus Harding, and Enel St. Bernard brought the Sycamores within two points with 3:14 remaining in the first half. Southern Illinois ultimately closed the period on an 8-5 run, establishing a 37-32 lead at halftime.
Second-Half Surge Falls Short
Southern Illinois extended their lead early in the second half, but Bruno Alocen kept Indiana State within striking distance with timely baskets. Despite Alocen’s efforts, the Salukis unleashed a 14-4 run, pushing their advantage to 53-39.
Indiana State demonstrated renewed energy following a timeout, with Bean’s jumper sparking an 8-5 run that narrowed the deficit to 11. Southern Illinois countered with an 11-2 surge, extending their lead to 20 before a layup from Young halted the run. The Sycamores finished the game strong, closing on a 16-11 run with contributions from Young, Alocen, and Ian Scott, but the comeback proved insufficient.
Alocen Leads Sycamores in Scoring
Bruno Alocen led all Indiana State scorers with a career-high 17 points, with 16 of those coming in the second half. Ian Scott followed with 13 points and a team-best nine rebounds and two blocks, while Camp Wagner added 11 points to the Sycamores’ tally. Xavier Hall dished out a game-high five assists.
Key Stats and Insights
Indiana State recorded 15+ assists for the first time since January 24, 2026, against Drake. The Sycamores are now 8-12 on the season when shooting 40% or better from the field, and they registered 18 assists on 24 made field goals. This marks the seventh time this season Indiana State has assisted on 75% or more of their field goals.
However, the Sycamores continue to struggle when their offense falters from beyond the arc, posting a 2-7 record when making fewer than seven three-pointers. They also face challenges when lacking consistent scoring depth, holding a 2-7 record in games with only three players reaching double figures. Indiana State’s record drops to 3-14 when allowing opponents to exceed 74 points.
Beyond the team statistics, several individual performances stood out. Cooper Bean recorded a career-high three assists, tying his career best of five points and one steal. Enel St. Bernard matched his Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) high of three assists, and Caden Huttenlocker secured his first rebound in an MVC game.
Looking Ahead to Murray State
Indiana State will look to rebound from this loss when they host Murray State on Thursday, February 12, at the Hulman Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
For the latest information on Sycamore Basketball, visit GoSycamores.com. Fans can also connect with the team on social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Updates on Sycamore Athletics are also available through the March On App, downloadable from the App Store and Google Play Store.
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