CARBONDALE - The 3-point numbers by Southern Illinois University's men's basketball team against Illinois State on Saturday weren't startling.

The Redbirds were the top-ranked 3-point percentage defense in the Missouri Valley Conference, and played better, statistically, at home. SIU, the best 3-point shooting team in the league and the sixth-best perimeter team in the nation by percentage, made just 3-of-15 in the 70-63 loss.

As the Salukis (9-11 overall, 4-5 in the MVC) move on to preparing for Missouri State, they just hope it's not a trend. MSU (9-10, 2-6) and SIU tip off at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at SIU Arena.

A 40.9 percent shooting team from behind the 3-point line entering Saturday's game, SIU has made only 13 of its last 44 attempts. At home against Bradley on Jan. 18, the Salukis made 3-of-11 from the new, 20-foot, 9-inch arc. Their 27.3 percentage was their lowest in 10 games and the first in their last eight under 35 percent.

SIU made 7 of 18 in its win at Indiana State. At Normal, the Salukis got some good looks, but couldn't find the range.

"We ran our stuff late, and we got what we wanted, and we missed them," SIU coach Chris Lowery said after Saturday's loss. "We're a much better 3-point shooting team than we showed today.

"We just missed them. It wasn't a situation where we took bad 3s. We took very good 3s down the stretch."

Bryan Mullins' 3-pointer with 8:46 to play got SIU within nine, 59-50. It was SIU's last made 3 of the game, as the Salukis missed their last six attempts.

Carlton Fay's attempt with 20 seconds to go would have gotten SIU within a possession, but the 6-foot-8 sophomore forward didn't even hit the rim on his try from the right side. Fay, a 37.5 percent shooter from behind the arc, missed both his attempts in Normal.

Kevin Dillard, the team's leading scorer and 3-point shooter this season, never got going and finished 2 of 9 from the field. Dillard was 1 of 3 from behind the arc, with two of his attempts rimming out.

Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich expected better from SIU's perimeter offense, but was more than happy to see his team survive. The Redbirds (17-3, 6-3) remained tied for second place with the victory.

"I thought they had some pretty good looks. I thought we had a little good fortune," Jankovich said. "I don't like to live on good fortune. I'd rather live with a hand in the face, but, overall, we did a good job of it."

SIU fell into a tie for sixth with Evansville. The Salukis and Purple Aces play again Saturday in Evansville; SIU won the first meeting.

SIU is still on pace to finish with its best 3-point percentage in more than 20 years. The Salukis made 42.4 percent during 1986-87, the first season the 3-point shot existed in college basketball. Entering Wednesday's game, they have knocked in 131 of 328 attempts, or 39.9 percent.

If the Salukis continue their current pace, they'll finish the first game of the MVC tournament with 202 made 3-pointers. That would fall well short of the record 268 set in 1995-96, but would be the third-highest total in the last seven seasons.

todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5087