CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) -Tony Freeman scored 19 points and Southern Illinois went on a 22-6 run midway through the second half to seal its Missouri Valley Conference opener, defeating Indiana State 70-52 Tuesday night.

Freeman hit 7 of his 10 shots, including 5 of 7 3-pointers. He also had four assists and three steals.

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Justin Bocot added 14 points and Nick Evans 11 for the Salukis (8-2, 1-0), who won their fifth consecutive game.

Dwayne Lathan led the Sycamores (8-4, 0-1) with 11 points, and Harry Marshall scored 10.

Bocot sank a 3-pointer to tie the game at 37 with 14:09 left. The Salukis never trailed thereafter, and Freeman's 3-pointer with 6:39 to go made it 59-43, completing the 22-6 spurt. Southern Illinois outscored the Sycamores 44-24 in the second half.

Southern Illinois outrebounded Indiana State 31-24 and forced 21 turnovers while committing 13.