- Matchup: Belmont Bruins vs Southern Illinois Salukis
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Venue: Banterra Center, Carbondale, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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This Saturday, the Belmont Bruins (16-3) will visit the Banterra Center to challenge the Southern Illinois Salukis (8-10)
In their previous outing, the Belmont Bruins secured a 78-74 victory against Valparaiso. They showcased an impressive shooting performance, hitting 56.1% of their field goals (32 of 57) and sinking 8 of 20 from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, Belmont was flawless, converting all six attempts for a perfect percentage. On the boards, they registered 24 total rebounds, including 4 offensive. The Bruins also contributed 17 assists while forcing 11 turnovers from their opponents and securing 3 steals. Defensively, Belmont allowed Valparaiso to shoot 43.5% (27 of 62). Valparaiso, in contrast, managed 16 assists and 5 steals, with 27 total rebounds (10 offensive and 17 defensive). They struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 8 of 15 attempts (53.3%) and making 12 of 31 three-point tries. Belmont committed 15 fouls compared to 11 by Valparaiso.
Jabez Jenkins was key in the Bruins’ win, scoring 17 points on 8 of 12 shooting. He played for 35 minutes, secured 4 rebounds, and tallied 3 assists, finishing with a field goal percentage of 66.7%.
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Currently, Belmont boasts a record of 16-3 this season, averaging 83.1 points per game (ranking 76th nationally) while shooting 51.3% from the field. The Bruins hit 39.4% from three-point range (194 of 493) and 67.7% from the free-throw line. They collect an average of 38.4 rebounds per game and have a total of 342 assists this season, ranking 12th in the nation for team assists. The Bruins commit about 13.4 turnovers and 17.0 personal fouls per game.
Defensively, the Bruins average 13.1 forced turnovers per game while conceding 17.6 fouls. They limit their opponents to a 32.6% shooting percentage from beyond the arc and rank 91st in Division I for points allowed per game (69.9). Belmont holds adversaries to a shooting percentage of 38.5% (452 of 1,175) and gives up 33.6 rebounds per game. They rank 224th in college basketball for the total assists surrendered with 241 this season.
In the Salukis’ last contest, they fell to Drake with a count of 76-73. They permitted Drake to nab 41 rebounds, of which 7 were offensive. Southern Illinois struggled from three-point range, shooting only 23.5% (8 of 34) while going 18 of 25 at the free-throw line (72.0%). The Salukis allowed Drake to connect on 25 of 62 field goals for an efficiency rate of 40.3%. When all was said and done, Southern Illinois shot 36.0% (27 of 75) from the field. They made 3 of 26 three-pointers (11.5%) and converted 16 free throws for 66.7%. Drake committed 19 fouls, giving the Salukis a total of 24 free-throw opportunities. The Salukis turned the ball over 8 times while managing to collect 10 steals, and they secured 30 defensive and 14 offensive rebounds for a total of 44 boards.
Damien Mayo Jr. contributed for Southern Illinois, scoring 17 points in 33 minutes while dishing out 5 assists. He achieved 57.1% shooting by connecting on 8 of 14 attempts and also grabbed 1 rebound.
With a record of 8-10 so far this season, the Salukis are hitting 47.1% from the field, ranking 96th nationally. They’ve totaled 1,378 points this season (76.6 per game) and secure 38.9 rebounds on average. Their assist count stands at 14.1 per game (202nd in Division 1), with a turnover rate of 12.9. The Salukis commit 18.8 personal fouls per game and convert 66.1% from the free-throw line.
Defensively, Southern Illinois ranks 186th for points allowed per game at 73.5. They force 13.3 turnovers on average and allow opponents to shoot 42.3% from the field (116th in college basketball). Their defense holds foes to 31.0% from three-point range (139 of 448), while opponents convert 69.0% of their free-throw attempts. They concede an average of 14.0 assists and 35.9 rebounds per game, which ranks them 235th and 267th, respectively, in these categories.
Which team will come out on top in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Recommendation: Bet on Belmont
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