Jake Odum scored 16 points and Indiana State weathered a game-opening drought lasting 8:12 to beat Southern Illinois 77-72 on Wednesday night.
Odum made just two baskets but went 12-for-12 from the line as the Sycamores (15-12, 10-6 Missouri Valley) won their third in a row. Dwayne Lathan scored 11 points.
The Salukis (11-16, 5-11) were led by Carlton Fay, whose 24 points included five 3-pointers. Kendal Brown-Surles and Diamond Taylor scored 12 points apiece and Mamadou Seck grabbed 11 rebounds for Southern Illinois, which has lost seven of eight.
The Salukis led 12-0 before Jordan Printy got Indiana State on the board with a 3-pointer with 11:48 left in the first half.
After the Salukis went up 15-9, the Sycamores rattled off the next nine points for an 18-15 lead with 5:16 left in the first half and never trailed again.
