MEN'S BASKETBALL: SIUE defeats Salukis for the first time

C.J. Carr scored 16 points and made a jumper with 25 seconds left to lift SIU Edwardsville over Southern Illinois 76-74 on Wednesday night.

Burak Eslik had 23 points to lead SIU Edwardsville (2-7). Grant Fiorentinos added 13 points.

Anthony Beane scored 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting for Southern Illinois (8-2). Bola Olaniyan had 11 rebounds, five steals, and chipped in nine points for the Salukis.

The Cougars had an 11-point lead with five minutes remaining. Armon Fletcher made a pair of free throws and Mike Rodriguez added a 3-pointer to spark a 12-2 surge to pull the Salukis to 71-70 at the two-minute mark.

Eslik made with a 3-pointer to stretch the Cougars lead to 74-70. Fletcher forced a turnover and dunked, and added a layup to tie it at 74-all with 39 seconds left before Carr hit the game-winner.

The victory for SIUE was their first ever over the Salukis in men's basketball.

Du Quoin High School graduate Connor Wheeler had 4 rebounds, 2 steals, an assist and 3 points in 15 minutes for the Cougars.

-Doug Daniels of the Du Quoin Evening Call contributed to this story.