BOX SCORE: USI 69, NKU 50 | Photo Gallery
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The University of Southern Indiana overpowered Northern Kentucky University, 69-50, Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. USI finishes its season opening homestand 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC, while NKU falls to 4-4, 0-2 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles were led by its red-hot senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois), who tied a career-high with 29 points and tied a season-best with six rebounds. Smith, who had 17 points in the first half, was a blistering 11-of-15 from the field, four-of-seven from the beyond the three-point arc, and three-of-three from the charity stripe.
USI started the game by spotting NKU a 6-0 lead before Smith got the Eagles on the scoreboard nearly two minutes into the contest. The Eagles slowly chipped away at the Norse advantage before exploding for a 19-3 run to take a commanding 29-19 lead with 5:19 left in the first half.
Leading the way during the 19-3 run was Smith, senior guard Marvin Gray (Freeport, Bahamas), and junior forward Nick Duncheon (Montgomery, Indiana) with five points each.
After the Norse cut the margin to six points, 31-25, junior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo) pushed the margin back to eight points, 33-25, with a lay-up prior to the intermission. USI held NKU to 37 percent from the field (10-27) in the opening 20 minutes, while lighting up the nets at 51.9 percent (14-27).
The Eagles' shooting and defense was even better in the second half, hitting 55.6 percent from the field (15-27) and holding NKU to 27.6 percent (8-29). USI led by as many as 24 points with 2:39 left, 67-43, and finished the game with a 19-point, 69-50 victory.
On the boards, USI continued to dominate and out rebounded NKU, 36-30. Smith and Ntumba tied for the team lead with six rebounds.
USI hits the road for the first time in the regular season, traveling to Louisville, Kentucky, for a pair of neutral site games in the Bellarmine University Invitational. The Eagles will play Indiana University Southeast on December 11 and Ohio Valley University on December 12. Tip-off for both games is 4 p.m. (CST).
The next home game for USI is December 14 when the Eagles host Urbana University for a 3:15 p.m. contest.
