Carbondale, IL (Sports Network) - Caleb Patterson scored 18 points as the
Missouri State Bears held off the Southern Illinois Salukis 56-54 in Missouri
Valley Conference action at SIU Arena.
Patterson had missed his team's last three games with an ankle injury. Kyle
Weems added 14 points for the Bears (15-11, 8-6 MVC) who have won three of
their last four. Keith Pickens added nine boards and nine points.
Mamadou Seck scored 14 points and collected five rebounds for Southern
Illinois (8-17, 5-9) which has lost three of its last four.
Missouri State led 31-25 at halftime after shooting 52.2 percent from the
floor, despite shooting 0-of-5 from long range. The six-point lead was its
largest of the night.
Southern Illinois led by three with 8:31 left but couldn't stay in front.
Sek missed two shots in the closing seconds that would have forced overtime.
Missouri State shot 51.2 percent from the floor for the game and had a 33-23
edge on the glass.
GAME NOTES:
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