Recap: SIU Edwardsville vs. Southern Ill

Edwardsville, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Early delivered 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Southern Illinois Salukis took out the Cougars of SIU- Edwardsville, 71-55, in non-conference action at the Vadalabene Center.

Also registering a double-double for the Salukis (3-0) was Desmar Jackson who posted 12 points, 10 rebounds and five steals off the bench. Anthony Beane was responsible for 15 points.

The Cougars (1-2) were paced by Derian Shaffer who had a double-double of his own with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Mark Yelovich with 11 points and six boards.

Both teams shot better than 40 percent from the field in the first half, but because the Cougars missed on all three of their three-point attempts, that allowed the visitors to claim a 35-28 advantage at the break.

Second-half action was interrupted at the 6:16 mark when several players got into a scuffle under the SIUE basketball. After reviewing the video for several minutes, officials ejected three players that were on the floor at the time of the incident (Jerome Jones and Ray Lester of SIUE and Antonio Bryer of Southern Illinois) and also tossed four players from the home team who entered the fray from off the bench.

Once the game resumed, SIUE struggled to find the mark from the field, hitting just nine total field goals in the period, including a dismal 1-of-10 behind the three-point line, en route to the 16-point setback.

The teams combined for 39 turnovers, with the visitors capitalizing with 24 points off those miscues.

With the victory the Salukis, now 3-0 for the first time since 2007, remain unbeaten against SIUE at 5-0.