CARBONDALE, Ill. – Winners of three straight games, the Southern Illinois men's basketball team will play host to regional rival Murray State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Banterra Center.  
 
PROMOTIONS  

SIU put on a defensive clinic throughout against Northern Iowa at home, but especially in the first half of play where SIU held UNI to just 15 points – a tie for sixth in program history for the fewest points in a first half.

UNI struggled to get any open looks from the floor as Southern locked in to hold the Panthers to just 4-of-28 from the floor in the first – UNI's first-half shooting percentage of 14.3 percent ranks as the third-best defensive effort in a half in program history.

SIU held Wright State to 13 percent in a half in 2010 and New Mexico State to 14 percent last season at the Cancun Challenge.

Davis, a St. Louis native, averaged a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Davis finished the two-game stretch shooting 57.1 percent (16-28) from the floor and 46.7 percent (7-15) from behind the arc.

Davis scored a career-high 24 in a win over UNI as he notched his third double-double of the season with a 24-point, 10-rebound performance against the Panthers. The sophomore had 18 points, eight rebounds, and three 3-pointers during a road win at Missouri State.

It will be the 43rd meeting of all time between Southern Illinois and Murray State.

The Salukis lead the series 23-19 and have won five straight games against the Racers.

SIU is 9-11 on the road, 13-5 at home, and 1-3 on neutral courts against Murray State.

Nagy brings 30 years of head coaching experience to Carbondale and has recorded 14 straight winning seasons while at the helm of both South Dakota State and Wright State.

Nagy ranks No. 17 in wins (585) among active Division I head coaches.