TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Sycamore defense cranked up the intensity in the second half holding the visiting Southern Illinois Salukis to just 23 points and a 35.3 shooting percentage, but SIU was used a late regulation bucket to force overtime and emerged victorious, 76-72 in front of 3,994 fans inside Hulman Center.

Indiana State fell to 11-17, 6-10 MVC while Southern Illinois kept their hold on second place in the league standings and improved to 19-10, 11-5 MVC.

The first half was tough for Indiana State as they allowed the Salukis to hit 17-of-31 shots from the field (54.8 percent) and were able to muster only nine makes off 25 attempts (36 percent) themselves. The result was a 42-32 halftime deficit that reached as high as 12 points with 13:15 to go before the break and again after the first possession of the second half.

When Aaron Cook connected on a pair of free throws with 18:07 to go in the game, the Salukis owned a 46-36 advantage. That's when the Sycamores went to work beginning with three points on two trips by Qiydar Davis before Murphy scored inside, grabbed a steal and Jordan Barnes buried a trey in transition to get ISU within 46-44. Murphy then scored inside on a second chance opportunity at the 13:52 mark which knotted the game at 46 and capped a 10-0 run.

Southern Illinois called a time out to regroup and scored the next five, before ISU did the same and a free throw by Davis with 8:57 on the clock tied the game at 51. Tyreke Key converted a charity toss with 7:49 to go to push ISU ahead by one point at 54-53. After Armon Fletcher staked the Salukis to a 56-54 lead, Murphy scored inside on a dunk for the game's sixth tie at the 6:13 mark. 

The Salukis led by a point when ISU used a pair of Murphy free throws, a Scott 3-pointer and then a Scott jumper to lead it 63-57 with 3:54 remaining -- ISU's biggest lead of the game. Scott would hit a free throw for a 64-59 lead at the 2:36 mark and ISU's last point in regulation came with 1:12 to go when Barnes hit a free throw to put ISU ahead 65-61. Jonathan Wiley nailed a jumper with 58 seconds to go and then an ISU turnover with 31 seconds to go set up the Salukis to tie the game for the eighth time with 15 seconds remaining on a Sean Lloyd lay-up. ISU could score in the final 15 seconds as the game went to overtime -- the fourth extra period game of the season for the Sycamores.

Davis scored first for ISU in extra time at the free throw line but seven points in a row by the Salukis gave them a 72-67 lead with 2:11 remaining. Barnes scored inside then connected on a free throw with 36 seconds left to get ISU within 74-72. The Sycamores got the ball back on a SIU mistake as they were guilty of a 10 second call with 25 seconds remaining but ISu came up empty on its final possessions, including a good look at a 3-pointer by Barnes with five seconds remaining which would have tied the game.

Instead, neither fell and the Salukis' run through conference play continued with the 76-72 victory.

Qiydar Davis pumped in a season-best 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the way while earning his second double-double of the season. Brenton Scott hit a pair of 3-pointers to score 13. He now has 270 for his career and trails Michael Menser by 13 for the program's school record. Brandon Murphy added 11 while Jordan Barnes tallied 10 to make it 23 games in a row for him in double figures. Barnes did see his streak of 29 consecutive free throws end late in regulation.

ISU finished the game hitting 22-of-57 from the field (38.6 percent) and owned a 40-35 edge on the glass. The Salukis won for the sixth consecutive time in the series.

The Sycamores will honor seniors Brandon Murphy, Brenton Scott, Demonte Ojinnaka and Qiydar Davis prior to the Evansville game on Wednesday, February 21. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET) from Hulman Center.