Caleb Patterson scored 18 points off the bench, Kyle Weems added 14 — including a tip-in with 42 seconds left that proved to be the game-winning score — and Missouri State held on to beat Southern Illinois 56-54 on Wednesday night.

Weems tipped in a missed Anthony Downing layup to give the Bears (15-11, 8-6 Missouri Valley) a 56-52 lead. Jeff Early got the Salukis (8-17, 5-9) back within two on a layup with 27 seconds left.

SIU then fouled Jarmar Gulley, who missed the front end of a one-and-one to give the Salukis a chance to tie or go ahead. But Mamadou Seck’s jumper in the closing seconds was off the mark.

Seck led SIU with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The Salukis attempted only 10 free throws and made just three of them.

The victory was only Missouri State’s eighth in 29 games against Southern Illinois in Carbondale.

— Associated Press —