S. Illinois fends off late Missouri St. run for 67-63 win

Mar 3, 2018, 02:50 am

ST. LOUIS -- Sean Lloyd Jr.'s 13 points led five players in double figures and No.2 seed Southern Illinois defeated seventh-seeded Missouri State 67-63 in a quarterfinal game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday night.

Kavion Pippen scored 11 points and Armon Fletcher, Aaron Cook and Tyler Smithpeters each scored 10 for the Salukis (20-12).

Lloyd's 3-pointer with 6:18 left gave Southern Illinois a 63-49 lead before the Bears climbed within a basket with a 12-0 run. Jarred Dixon made a jump shot and a layup while Jarrid Rhodes made a pair of free throws and two jumpers during the stretch.

Cook's layup made it 65-61 and Dixon responded with two foul shots. Cook missed a jumper but on Missouri State's following possession, Smithpeters came up with a steal and Lloyd laid it in with six seconds left to end it.

Rhodes scored 21 points, Dixon added 16 and Alize Johnson collected 11 rebounds.