Box Score | Postgame Comments | Highlights

Carbondale, Ill. - Anthony Beane scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as Southern Illinois used a late push to earn a 59-52 win over Loyola this evening at SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ill. Loyola slips to 13-5 (3-3 Valley) with the loss while the Salukis improve to 8-11 (1-5).

Loyola's inside duo of Christian Thomas and Montel James was the story of the first half, combining for 16 of the Ramblers' 20 points. A Thomas basket gave LU an early three-point lead but SIU scored the next six points to move on top. SIU's Dawson Verhines picked up a loose ball and beat the shot clock buzzer with a three-pointer to give the home team a 17-12 lead but Loyola would respond. Two baskets from Thomas and one from Milton Doyle put the Ramblers back on top but they managed just two points over the final 5:32 of the period as SIU took a 23-20 lead into intermission.

James scored the first four points of the second half but SIU kept a 28-24 lead after a Beane free throw. Loyola pulled even at 30 on a Jay Knuth three-poiner from the top and a Jeff White basket moments later gave LU the lead back, 32-31. Southern Illinois was able to get Loyola into the bonus early in the period and the Salukis used the free throw line to hang around. A three-pointer from Devon Turk and a White basket gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the game (39-33) but a Jalen Pendleton basket and four free throws quickly forged a 39-all tie. The teams traded baskets to 45-45 before SIU made its decisive push.

Beane split a pair from the line and knocked down a jumper after the Salukis grabbed the miss to make it a three-point game. He knocked down another long two-pointer on the next possession to bump the lead to five and, after the Ramblers missed inside, he buried another jumper to make it a 52-45 game with 1:49 left. Loyola would get no closer than five the rest of the way.

Thomas finished with a team-high 15 points but cooled off after a 4-for-5 start, finishing 6-of-14 from the floor. James added 12 points and Turk scored all eight of his points in the second half. Beane finished 6-of-7 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the foul line en route to his game-high 20 points.

Loyola looks to get back on the winning track when it hosts Evansville on Wednesday night. Tip from Gentile Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.