EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team opened the 22nd straight season with a victory when it knocked off Harris-Stowe State University, 87-62, Saturday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI, who also has opened 24-straight home schedules with a win, goes to 1-0, while HSSU falls to 1-2 in 2007-08.

After the Hornets scored the first points of the game, the Screaming Eagles took control and never looked back. USI used several offensive bursts in the first half to build a 17-point halftime margin of 43-26.

In the second half, USI increased its lead to 22 points, 52-30, quickly after the intermission. HSSU tried to get back into the contest with a 9-0 run to cut the lead to13 points, but 52-39 would be as close as it would come to USI in the final half.

The Eagles would expand the margin to as many as 30 points, 81-51, before settling for the 87-62 win.

USI senior forward Norman Plummer (Cincinnati, Ohio) made a great impression in his Eagle debut, scoring a game-high 28 points and grabbing a game-high 13 boards. Plummer was followed in the scoring column by junior forward Anthony Pimble (Bronx, New York), who had 23 points, and senior guard Tyson Schnitker (Robinson, Illinois) with 11 points. Schnitker also had a game-high five assists.

The Eagles continue their four-game homestand Tuesday evening when they host the University of Illinois-Springfield. Game time is 7:30 p.m.