CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois shot 66 percent from the field and 62 percent from 3-point range as the hot-shooting Salukis defeated the Billikens 101-62 at the Banterra Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
Saint Louis falls to 5-4 with the loss, while Southern Illinois improves to 5-2.
 
Tim Dalger led the Billikens with a season-high 18 points. Kellen Thames recorded his first-career double-double after posting career bests of 10 points and 11 rebounds. Gibson Jimerson also scored in double figures with 10 points.
 
Cian Medley scored seven points, while fellow freshman Djordje Curcic drained a pair of treys and finished with six points.
 
Starting guards Michael Meadows Jr. and Larry Hughes II both left in the first half with injuries and did not return. The Billikens were also playing without leading scorer Sincere Parker, who remains sidelined with a foot injury.
 
Southern Illinois grabbed a double-digit advantage midway through the first half and never looked back. SLU pulled to within eight late in the first half, but a big Saluki run to end the half and begin the second put the game out of reach for the Billikens.
 
Xavier Johnson pumped in 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting and 6-of-8 from 3-point range to pace SIU.
 
The Salukis' 18 3-pointers were a record for a Billiken opponent.
 
The Billikens return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 6, with another road game, taking on Drake in Des Moines in a 7 p.m. tipoff.