TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State was not able to mount a comeback after falling behind early to visiting Southern Illinois before falling, 79-57 in front of 3,997 fans inside Hulman Center on Saturday afternoon.

ISU fell to 13-13, 5-9 MVC while SIU improved to 14-13, 7-7 MVC and won for the eighth consecutive time in the series. 

It was quite the pregame atmosphere as Sycamore legend Carl Nicks had his No. 22 jersey retired in ceremonies prior to tip-off. Nicks began his Indiana State career in 1976 and during his junior year he returned from Florida in time to help the Sycamores to wins in their first 33 games as well as a  berth into the NCAA National Championship Game and Final Four in Salt Lake City. That season Carl averaged 19.3 points and during his senior campaign – Nicks scored an impressive 26.7 points per game.
 
His 1,432 career points ranks in the school's all-time Top 10 and his career high 47 points came on January 12, 1980 against West Texas State. That is tied for the third highest single-game total in school history. 
 
Nicks was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, taking those honors in both 1979 and 1980. During the 1979 season, Nicks was named both an All-American and took home All-Midwest Regional honors as the Sycamores took down Arkansas to advance to the Final Four. 

Cooper Neese finished with a game-high 14 points as he hit 5-of-11 shots from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. Joining him in double figures was Emondre Rickman who added 12 points while Jordan Barnes also connected on a pair from distance to score 11. Neese led the Sycamores with five rebounds.

ISU could never get untracked offensively as they hit 21-of-63 from the field (33.3 percent) and SIU raced out to a 12-point halftime lead by hitting 15-of-22 from the field in the opening 20 minutes (68.2 percent). 

The Sycamores gave up the first six points of the game before Barnes connected on a long jumper at the 17:23 mark to make it a four-pint game. Then Sean Loyd buried a triple which led to SIU taking a 13-4 lead early in the game. When Kavion Pippen hit a shot runner in the paint with 5:23 remaining, the Saluki lead was at 32-14. Trailing 40-23, Key took advantage of a Christian Williams steal with 34 seconds left and hit a lay-up before Barnes banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer for five in a row which cut the Saluki advantage down to 40-28 at the break.

Barnes would hit another triple on the Sycamores' second possession of the second half, once again following a Williams steal which drew the Sycamores within 40-31. When Rickman hit 1-of-2 free throws with 11 minutes to go, the Sycamore deficit was 51-42 before the Salukis countered with five in a row for the 56-42 cushion with 9:18 remaining. ISU would never get closer in the game despite an Allante Holston 3-pointer at the buzzer which trimmed the final margin to 79-57.

Southern Illinois had three 20-point scorers in the game led by Pippen and Loyd who finished with 21 points each while Armon Fletcher added 20 of his own.

ISU returns to action on Wednesday, February 20 when they host Illinois State at 7 pm (ET) inside Hulman Center.