CHICAGO — Southern Illinois triumphed over UIC with a final score of 89-85, thanks to Ali Abdou Dibba’s impressive 26-point performance and Kennard Davis sealing the game with a crucial free throw with just 39 seconds remaining.

Dibba demonstrated a solid shooting performance, hitting 9 of his 21 attempts, while struggling from beyond the arc at 1 for 5. However, he excelled at the free-throw line, successfully converting 7 of 9 attempts. In addition to Dibba’s contributions, Davis made a significant impact, scoring 19 points after shooting 8 out of 12 from the field, including 1 for 3 from three-point territory, and nailing 2 out of 3 free throws. Jarrett Hensley also played a critical role in Southern Illinois’ victory, chipping in 11 points, with a shooting line of 2 of 4 from the field, 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, and 6 of 8 from the line.

On the other side, UIC had standout performances as well, led by Jordan Mason, who recorded 23 points, along with seven assists and two steals. Ahmad Henderson II contributed 16 points, and Javon Jackson added 14 points and two steals to the Flames’ effort.

The game was tightly contested, as the teams entered halftime locked at a score of 46-46. Dibba was particularly effective in the first half, scoring 12 points and then elevating his game in the second half, where he added another 14 points to his total, ultimately helping Southern Illinois claim the win.