Missouri State Bears vs Southern Illinois Salukis Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Southern Illinois vs Missouri State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Springfield.

Southern Illinois vs Missouri State Prediction

Betting on today's Salukis and Bears game? Catch the action at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, MO, as the Bears hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 135.5 points, and Missouri State is favored by -4.5 vs. Southern Illinois in a Missouri Valley conference matchup.

Southern Illinois vs. Missouri State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Southern Illinois Salukis at Missouri State Bears
Where: Springfield at Great Southern Bank Arena
Date: Wednesday, January 15th
Betting Odds MSRST -4.5, SILL +164 | MSRST -198 O/U 135.5

Salukis Preview: Do the Salukis Stand a Chance on the Road?

Southern Illinois improved to 4-11 on the season with an 88-78 win over Missouri State on Saturday, January 11th. The Salukis were -1.5 favorites at home and covered the spread. The game’s total points reached 166, surpassing the O/U line of 135.5.

Leading 35-27 at halftime, Southern Illinois scored 37 points in the 2nd half but allowed 45 points to Missouri State, highlighting some defensive concerns despite the win.

Salukis Offense Breakdown

Southern Illinois put up 88 points in their last game, shooting 47.7% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 52.3%, and they hit 70.4% of their free throws, going 19-for-27 from the line.

Jarrett Hensley led the way with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. Vincent Brady II added 24 points, hitting 3-of-5 from three, while Zaxton King contributed 23 points, knocking down 4-of-9 from long range.

Salukis Team Defense

Southern Illinois struggled defensively, giving up 78 points on 47% shooting from the field. They allowed 24 two-point baskets on 46 attempts, a 52% conversion rate.

From beyond the arc, their opponent shot 36%, hitting 7 of 19 three-pointers. Southern Illinois also sent them to the line 27 times, where they made 19 free throws, a 70% success rate.

Bears Preview: Will the Bears Pull Through as the Favored Home Team?

Missouri State Bears Recent Game/Games

The Bears fell to 5-10 on the season after an 88-78 road loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday. Missouri State entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 166, well over the pre-game O/U line of 135.5.

Missouri State trailed 35-27 at halftime but managed to score 45 points in the 2nd half. However, they allowed 37 points in the 2nd half, preventing a comeback.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Missouri State put up 78 points in their last game, shooting 42.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50.8%. They hit 11 threes at a 37.9% clip and went 17-for-25 from the free-throw line, good for 68%.

Jarrett Hensley led the way with 30 points, shooting 68.8% overall and 75% from deep. Vincent Brady II added 24 points, hitting 3-of-5 from three, while Zaxton King contributed 23 points, connecting on 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Bears Team Defense

Despite Missouri State's defensive efforts, they gave up 88 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 47% from the field. The Bears struggled to contain shots inside the arc, with the opposing team hitting 52% of their two-point attempts (24/46).

From three-point range, the opponent shot 36%, making 7 of 19 attempts. Missouri State also sent them to the free-throw line 27 times, where they converted 19 free throws for 70%. The Bears gave up 14 offensive rebounds in the game.

Salukis vs Bears Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last ten games away from home, the Salukis have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 4-4-1 vs. the spread. The team averaged 71 points per game in this stretch.
Across the Bears last five home games, the team averaged 65 points per game while allowing 74. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 2-3, while going 1-4 straight-up.
Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Salukis have gone 2-7-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 0-10.
As the betting favorite, the Bears have an ATS mark of just 1-4 in their last five games. Missouri State posted a straight up mark of 1-4 in these matchups.