SPRINGFIELD, Mo--The Missouri State Bears will tip off the Valley conference Sunday evening at JQH Arena.
The game will also mark the return of former Bears basketball coach Barry Hinson.
Hinson coached Missouri State for nine seasons before being fired in 2008.
He took over the Salukis this season.
Southern Illinois will come into the Q with a 7-4 record and a load of momentum.
Missouri State on the other hand is struggling, currently on an eight game losing streak.
And the Valley will present a whole new set of challenges.
"You wish you had a ton of veterans that have been through it and can handle all of that," said MSU coach Paul Lusk. "That's not what we have, that's not our roster. So we've tried to tell our guys it's been pretty hard so far, but it's about to go up another level."
