SALEM, WV - After dropping an 86-72 decision at home to Alderson Broaddus on Thursday night (Jan. 5), the Salem International University men's basketball squad will play host to in-state foe Bluefield State College on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) at 2 p.m. inside T. Edward Davis Gym. Live stats and video for the game will be available on www.siutigerpride.com.

This will be the first of two meetings this season between the Tigers and Blues as Salem will travel to Bluefield on February 4, 2017 for a 4 p.m. tip-off. Bluefield has already played two contests at the TED this season, participating in the 35th Annual Joe Manchin Classic hosted by SIU. The Blues dropped an 81-61 decision to Charleston (WV) on the opening-day of the tournament, followed by an 82-72 loss to West Virginia State on the final-day of action.

The Tigers split a home-and-home series with the Blues last season, knocking-off Bluefield 103-77 at the TED on December 5, 2016. In that match-up, junior Saquan Epps scored 14 points for SIU, going 6-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the free throw line. Bluefield would win the second contest at home by a score of 129-110. Senior Victor Blakey recorded 17 points in the loss for the Tigers, while adding six assists. Over the past two seasons the Tigers and Blues have played four times, with the home team winning every time.

Epps has paced the Tigers' offense this season, scoring 11.5 points per contest and adding a team-high 5.9 rebounds per contest. Freshman Jarius Farrow is averaging 10.8 points per contest and a team-high seven blocks on defense. Blakey has also averaged double-digit numbers this season on offense, scoring 10.5 points per contest and a team-high 64 assists.

Bluefield State is led by senior Joshua Windham's 14.8 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. Senior Marcus Richardson is averaging 11.6 points per game, while senior Julian Hernandez has averaged 10.3 points per game this season.

SIU is averaging 72 points per contest this season and allowing opponents to score 99 points per contest, while the Blues are averaging 64 points per game and allowing 85 points per game.