dlstr9020
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Randy Burns scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead Wichita State past Southern Illinois 58-56 Saturday night.
Kyle Wilson scored 13 for the Shockers (13-2, 6-1 Missouri Valley), who had dropped five straight to the Salukis. PJ Couisnard had 11, while Jamar Howard added 10.
Jamaal Tatum scored 21 points to lead the Salukis (15-4, 6-1), who dropped their first conference game. Darren Brooks had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
With the Shockers leading 55-49, Tatum hit a 3-point shot and Stetson Hairston made two free throws to pull Southern Illinois within 55-54 with 2:50 remaining.
Matt Shaw tied the game at 56 on two free throws with 1:30 to play. Wilson then scored the go- ahead layup with 24 seconds left.
Southern Illinois had a final possession with six seconds left, but the Salukis threw away the inbound pass.
The Salukis took a 27-21 lead into halftime. Brooks led the Salukis in the half, scoring 13 points and pulling down seven rebounds. The Salukis shot only 41 percent in the half but held the Shockers to a meager 29 percent, including 0-7 from 3-point range. Couisnard paced Wichita State with eight points and five rebounds in the half.
Wichita State opened the second half on a 9-0 run, taking a 30-27 lead on a Rob Kampman three-point play.
The Salukis responded with a 12-5 run of their own, capped by a Tatum 3 giving Southern Illinois a 39-35 lead with about 11:00 to play. The Shockers then took a 45-41 lead with a run that included five points from Wilson.
