- Matchup: Evansville Purple Aces vs Southern Illinois Salukis
- Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Venue: Banterra Center, Carbondale, IL
- Broadcast: ESPN+
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The Southern Illinois Salukis (11-14) aim to secure a win against the Evansville Purple Aces (6-19) at Banterra Center this Thursday.
In their latest clash, the Evansville Purple Aces triumphed over Illinois State, concluding the game at 88-80. The Purple Aces committed 12 fouls compared to Illinois State’s 15. From three-point range, they landed 12 out of 29 attempts. Illinois State shot 71.4% from the free-throw line, converting 10 of 14 shots. The Aces registered 25 rebounds (1 offensive) while allowing their opponents 49.2% shooting from the floor (29 of 59). They managed 15 assists and forced 7 turnovers, contributing 4 steals to their defensive effort. Evansville shot 56.9% from the field (29 out of 51) and hit 14 of 21 three-point attempts, while also excelling at the free-throw line with 16 out of 19 (84.2%).
AJ Casey showcased an impressive performance, scoring 28 points on 10 of 15 shooting in 33 minutes, along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Purple Aces come into this matchup with a season record of 6-19. They are averaging 13.1 turnovers and committing 16.2 fouls per game. Evansville is grabbing an average of 32.4 rebounds and has tallied 333 assists this season, ranking 217th nationwide in assists. With a three-point shooting percentage of 32.9% (190 of 577) and a free-throw success rate of 71.8%, they average 67.7 points per game (336th in the country), hitting 43.0% of their shots overall.
On defense, the Purple Aces force an average of 11.3 turnovers and concede 17.1 fouls. They are ranked 298th nationally in allowed assists, having permitted 367 throughout the season. Evansville’s defense allows a field goal percentage of 45.2% (656 of 1,450) and pulls down 35.5 rebounds per game. They hold opponents to a 35.2% three-point shooting percentage and are ranked 207th in points allowed per game at 74.5.
The Southern Illinois Salukis recently secured an 80-65 victory against Indiana State, gathering 29 defensive boards alongside 11 on the offensive end for a total of 40 rebounds. They turned the ball over 12 times while recording 11 steals during the match. Indiana State totaled 15 fouls, leading to 13 free-throw attempts for Southern Illinois, who converted 9 for a 69.2% rate. The Salukis connected on 5 of 16 three-point attempts (31.3%) and shot 33 of 71 overall for a percentage of 46.5%. Defensively, they held Indiana State to 41.4% shooting (24 of 58) and allowed 29 total rebounds.
Quel’Ron House contributed notably for the Salukis, scoring 14 points in 40 minutes while distributing 5 assists. He finished with a field goal percentage of 37.5%, hitting 6 of 16 shots and recording 3 rebounds.
Southern Illinois boasts a record of 11-14 this season. The Salukis commit 18.5 personal fouls each game and maintain a free-throw shooting percentage of 66.9%. They record 13.7 assists on average (ranking 209th nationally) while turning the ball over 12.4 times per contest. The team has amassed 1,855 points this season (74.2 points per game) and averages 37.8 rebounds per game. As an offense, Southern Illinois hits 46.0% of their shots, placing them 140th in the nation.
Defensively, Southern Illinois allows a three-point shooting percentage of 30.5% (182 of 596) while opponents hit 69.5% from the charity stripe. They allow an average of 13.3 assists and 35.7 total rebounds per game, ranking 170th and 255th nationwide, respectively. The Salukis are 121st in the nation in points allowed per game at 71.6, forcing their opponents into 13.5 turnovers and allowing a shooting percentage of 42.5% from the field (98th in college basketball).
Who will cover the spread in tonight’s NCAA game?
Prediction: Take Evansville
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
