Salukis, Racers Earn MVC Wins

SIU men's basketball edges Northern Iowa, Murray State defeats Evansville

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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In men's basketball, Southern Illinois University (SIU) defeated Northern Iowa 59-57, led by Quel'Ron House's 21 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. Meanwhile, Murray State University defeated Evansville 88-75, with KJ Tenner scoring 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds for the Racers.

Why it matters

The wins keep SIU and Murray State in contention in the competitive Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings, as the regular season winds down. SIU is now 14-15 overall and 8-10 in the MVC, while Murray State improved to 20-10 overall and 12-7 in the conference.

The details

In the SIU-Northern Iowa game, the Salukis held on for a narrow 59-57 victory. Quel'Ron House led the way for SIU with 21 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. The win keeps SIU in the hunt for a higher MVC tournament seed, as they prepare to face Indiana State on Wednesday. In the other MVC matchup, Murray State cruised past Evansville 88-75. KJ Tenner paced the Racers with 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds, as Murray State improved to 20-10 overall and 12-7 in conference play. They will next take on Bradley on Sunday.

  • SIU now 14-15, 8-10, vs Indiana St. Wed
  • Murray St. now 20-10, 12-7, at Bradley Sun

The players

Quel'Ron House

A player for Southern Illinois University men's basketball team, who scored 21 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in their win over Northern Iowa.

KJ Tenner

A player for Murray State University men's basketball team, who scored 20 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in their win over Evansville.

Southern Illinois University

A Division I university and member of the Missouri Valley Conference, whose men's basketball team defeated Northern Iowa 59-57.

Murray State University

A Division I university and member of the Ohio Valley Conference, whose men's basketball team defeated Evansville 88-75.

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The takeaway

The wins by SIU and Murray State keep both teams in contention in their respective conference races, as the regular season winds down. These results highlight the competitive nature of college basketball, especially in mid-major conferences like the MVC and OVC, where any team can beat another on a given night.