CARBONDALE, Ill. — Henderson State kicked off its 2021-22 campaign on Tuesday evening when it fell on the road to NCAA Division I Southern Illinois 66-52 in an exhibition contest.

The Salukis, who were picked fifth preseason in the Missouri Valley Conference, never trailed in the game and jumped out to a 42-21 lead at the half. The Reddies shot just 35% in the first 20 minutes.

Henderson flipped the script in the second half against its DI counterpart, as the Reddies out-scored SIU 31-24 over the final 20 minutes. HSU finished the game on a 13-3 run and shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc in the second period. 

Newcomer Alvin Miles led the Reddies with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. Malik Riddle added nine points, six rebounds and four steals. Tomislav Miholjcic, who got the first start of his career, had eight points and finished 4-of-6 from the floor.

HSU shot 39.1% from the field on the night and forced 15 SIU turnovers while committing just 13. The Salukis's biggest advantage came on the glass, where they out-rebounded Henderson 38-22.

The Reddies open their DII schedule on Nov. 13 when they take on Winona State at the Central Region Challenge in Kansas City.