GAME NOTES: The Austin Peay Governors pay a visit to SIU Arena to take on the surging Salukis of Southern Illinois in non-conference play.

Austin Peay has been idle since an 83-62 loss to Stephen F. Austin last Friday in the Las Vegas Invitational, where the team went just 1-3. This is the last game on the road before three straight at home for the Governors, who are 0-4 in true road games so far. They last played in their home arena back on Nov. 16.

Southern Illinois enters this contest in search of a fourth consecutive victory. The Salukis were in action on Wednesday night at sister school SIUE, where they won in a 79-67 final. Following this tilt, they'll travel to Southeast Missouri State before returning to Carbondale for a five-game homestand leading into the New Year.

SIU owns a 9-6 series lead, although the Governors claimed a 72-70 victory on their home floor when these teams met last November.

Austin Peay has had more than a week to try and correct some of the defensive lapses that led to Stephen F. Austin shooting 63.3 percent from the floor hanging 83 points on the board. Then again, the Governors opened that tournament with a 107-66 loss to Illinois a week earlier. They also struggled offensively against SFA, shooting just 41.7 percent while committing 17 turnovers. Khalil Davis (11.0 ppg) was a bright spot, as he scored a career- high 25 points and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Chris Horton (12.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg) also delivered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks and two steals. Josh Robinson scored 12 off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

SIU is led by dynamic guard Anthony Beane, who is currently second in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring with 21.3 ppg. Beane is shooting a healthy 56.1 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc (12- of-26). Sean O'Brien has provided a nice complement in the paint, where he is averaging 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting at a 55 percent clip. In the team's win over SIUE earlier this week, Beane scored 20 of his game-high 28 points during the first half. The Salukis shot 56.5 percent in that opening frame and knocked down 4-of-6 3-point tries en route to a 45-22 halftime lead. Defensively, they held SIUE to 6-of-26 shooting from the field in the half.

Given Austin Peay's spotty defense so far this season, Beane is likely to get plenty of open looks in this one, which could spell doom for the visiting Governors.