GAME NOTES: Sister schools will square off at the Vadalabene Center on Wednesday night, as the Southern Illinois Salukis play host to the SIU Edwardsville Cougars in non-conference action.

SIU lost three of its first four games this season, including its opening two matchups in the Men Against Breast Cancer Classic, but since then it has won back-to-back games to climb back to .500 at 3-3. The Salukis played their first home game on Saturday and defeated NAIA program Olivet Nazarene, 76-60.

SIUE has been quiet in the early going this season with just four games in the first three weeks, and it has lost three straight since winning its opener against Harris-Stowe (104-56). The Cougars haven't played since Nov. 24, when they fell on the wrong end of a 90-87 overtime decision at Portland State.

SIU has won all six previous meetings against SIUE, including last December in Carbondale, 74-57.

The Salukis did what was expected of them against an inferior opponent in their most recent game, as they outshot Olivet Nazarene from the field, 57.1 percent to 40.4 percent, and were nearly automatic from the free-throw line (18-of-20) on their way to a 16-point victory. Leading the charge was Anthony Beane, who poured in 27 points on 11-of-17 from the field to go with three steals. Sean O'Brien (13 points), Jordan Caroline (12) and Bola Olaniyan (10) were also solid in the winning effort.

On the season, SIU boasts a quality field goal percentage (.440) but only scores 63.8 ppg, and its lackluster offensive attack masks impressive work done on the other end of the floor in allowing just 62.7 ppg. Beane is the unquestioned go-to scorer, netting 20.2 ppg with great percentages from the floor (.550), 3-point range (.455) and the foul line (.852). O'Brien (14.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is a strong complementary option, but no one else scores more than 7.5 ppg.

The Cougars held a late lead in a back-and-forth battle with Portland State their last time out but allowed the game-tying bucket inside of 10 seconds remaining in regulation, and they eventually suffered a three-point loss in overtime. Despite shooting an outstanding 54.1 percent from the field, the Cougars were outscored at the free-throw line, 23-13, and lost both the rebounding (33-31) and turnover (14-10) battles. Kris Davis shot 9-of-13 from the floor en route to a game-high 25 points. Keaton Jackson put up 16 points, Michael Messer added 10 points and Donivine Stewart tallied nine points and six assists.

Scoring points has come rather easily for SIUE this season, as it shoots greater than 46.3 percent from the field for 78.8 ppg, but it has been let down by a disappointing defensive effort (73.8 ppg). Davis and Stewart are tied for the team lead in scoring with 14.8 ppg apiece, with Stewart also finding time to hand out 5.8 apg. Jackson (10.8 ppg) and Messer (10.2 ppg) are consistently reliable as well.

In a battle of the Cougars' stellar shooting attack versus the Salukis' stout defense, expect SIUE to carry most of the momentum in front of its home crowd to notch its first-ever win over SIU.