Missouri State tops Southern Illinois 69-63

Published Jan. 25, 2014 10:22 p.m. ET

foxsports

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) Jarmar Gulley scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday night as Missouri State beat Southern Illinois 69-63.

Gavin Thurman scored 14, Dorrian Williams 13, Austin Ruder 12, and the Bears (14-6, 4-4 Missouri Valley) outshot the Salukis 50 percent to 46 percent.

Southern Illinois (6-15, 2-6) opened with an 8-0 run, but Christian Kirk put Missouri State out in front 16-15 with a jumper at 6:35. Southern Illinois regained the lead 27-26 on a jumper by Anthony Beane, but Gulley's jumper and free throw gave the Bears a 29-27 halftime edge.

The Salukis opened the second half with a 9-2 run and took the lead, but the Bears tied it at 41 on a jumper by Thurman, then pulled ahead 54-51 on Ruder's back-to-back 3-pointers and led by seven with 40 seconds to play.

Desmar Jackson led the Salukis with 18, Tyler Smithpeters had 16, and Beane 11.