Best SIU Team in 8 Years

(St. Louis, MO) – By winning Wednesday’s game at Indiana State, Southern Illinois (19-7, 8-5) has secured it’s best season since 2007. Barry Hinson’s team had dropped four straight games, but senior guard Anthony Beane willed the Salukis to an 85-78 bounce back win in Terre Haute.

Beane scored 31 points while connecting five times from long distance. The 6’2 senior has collected career numbers that are staggering. His name is all over the SIU record book. He is fifth in scoring (1,820 points), three-pointers (182) and made free throws (350). He is ninth in made field goals (604). But Wednesday night it was his leadership that stood out to his head coach.

Barry Hinson praised Beane for being a ‘senior on the road.’ “If there’s anything I’m impressed with our ball club tonight it was Anthony’s leadership, and I’m not talking about the points. I’m telling you, every huddle, every timeout, in the locker room, prep in practice, he just willed us not to get beat.”

SIU hasn’t had a winning season since 2008. That year they won 18 games. That season ended a stretch of six consecutive campaigns where ‘Floor Burn U’ averaged 25.8 wins per year. With one more win, Hinson’s squad will reach the 20 victory plateau for the first time since 2007.

Their 8-5 Valley record will be good for a tie for third after tonight’s game between Illinois State and Evansville (tied at 8-4). SIU’s best finish in the past seven years has been tied for fourth. They’ve finished with a .500 record in the Valley once during those years.

Hinson, who previously coached at MVC member Missouri State reached the 20-win level three times in nine seasons with the Bears. Hinson’s teams earned winning records in eight of his nine seasons in Springfield, Missouri and in both years he was at the helm at Oral Roberts, but this will be his first winning season in Carbondale.

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