Fletcher's 3 lifts Southern Illinois over Loyola-Chicago (Feb 25, 2017)
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) Armon Fletcher scored 14 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 17 seconds left, and Southern Illinois secured the No. 4 seed in next week's Missouri Valley Conference tournament with a 72-70 win over Loyola-Chicago on Saturday night.
Loyola-Chicago took a 70-69 lead on a pair of Clayton Custer free throws with 36 seconds left, but Fletcher sank his third 3 on Southern Illinois's next possession, and Custer's jumper to tie with four seconds left was no good.
Sean O'Brien had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Salukis (16-15, 9-9), and Leo Vincent added 15 points.
Southern Illinois led 34-31 at the break, and neither team led by more than four the rest of the way. Loyola-Chicago shot 14 of 26 from the field with three 3s in the second half while the Salukis were 14 of 24 with four 3s.
Custer led Loyola-Chicago (18-13, 8-10) with 21 points, and Aundre Jackson had 18.
