Wichita ? Jamaal Tatum scored 18 points to lead Southern Illinois to a 54-46 win Saturday afternoon over Wichita State.
The Salukis (19-5, 10-3 Missouri Valley Conference) have won five in a row and seven of their past nine.
Tatum made 7 of 15 shots. Randal Falker and Matt Shaw scored 13 points apiece for Southern Illinois.
The Salukis limited Wichita State (15-9, 6-7) to six baskets in the first 31:31 of the game. Overall, Wichita State made 12 of 44 (27.3 percent).
Southern Illinois held Wichita State to its lowest scoring output of the season. The Shockers’ previous low was 56 points in a loss to USC on Dec. 23.
Southern Illinois led, 32-19, at halftime and built its advantage to 42-25 on Tatum’s basket with 9:18 remaining.
Wichita State was able to chip away at the lead, though, and trailed by just four, 49-45, with 44 seconds to play. That’s as close as the Shockers got. The Salukis were 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 31 seconds.
Kyle Wilson led Wichita State with 11 points. P.J. Couisnard added 10.
