Game Notes; NABC/Division II Top 25 Poll
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team goes on the road for the first time in the 2009-10 regular season when it travels to Louisville, Kentucky, for a pair of neutral site games in the Bellarmine University Invitational. The Screaming Eagles are scheduled to play Indiana University-Southeast Friday at 4 p.m. and Ohio Valley University Saturday at 4 p.m.
Fans can listen to the games on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM or on the internet by visiting www.gousieagles.com.
After receiving votes last week, the Eagles entered the NABC Division II Top 25 poll at number 20. Joining the Eagles in the top 25 from the GLVC was Drury University (11) and Kentucky Wesleyan College (25). Bellarmine University and Northern Kentucky University fell out of the rankings this week.
USI (6-0, 2-0 GLVC) is coming off a dominating 6-0 homestand to start the season, including a pair of wins to start play in the GLVC. The Eagles started the conference schedule by defeating Bellarmine, 75-62, and Northern Kentucky, 69-50.
Leading the way was senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois), who was named the GLVC Player of the Week for his efforts. Smith, who is averaging 22.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, dropped in 28.5 points per contest against Bellarmine and NKU.
Smith is followed in the scoring column this season by senior center Jeron Lewis (Ft. Wayne, Indiana), who is recording 12.5 points and a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game, and senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio), who is averaging 10.7 points per contest.
The Grenadiers of IU-Southeast (8-2) enters the tournament on a winning streak of their own, winning their last four games. IU-Southeast posted a 71-70 overtime win over St. Catharine College and a 105-74 win over Cincinnati Christian College at home last week.
Leading IU-Southeast is junior guard Jazzmarr Ferguson, who is scoring at a 15.9 points per contest clip. The Grenadiers also feature former USI player Alex Gravelle, a senior guard who was member of the Eagles from 2005 to 2007.
USI leads the all-time series with IU-Southeast, 16-7, and has not played the Grenadiers since defeating them, 95-79, in 1990-91.
The Fighting Scots of Ohio Valley (1-4), who play at Eastern Kentucky University tonight, start the week in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Ohio Valley's leading scorer is junior forward Donavin Vinson, who averaging 15.2 points per appearance.
The Eagles also lead the all-time series with Ohio Valley, 1-0, after defeating the Fighting Scots, 94-68, during the 2007-08 season.
Following the Bellarmine Invitational, USI starts a five-game homestand on December 14 by hosting Lake Erie College. Start time Monday is 7:30 p.m. The Storm, who is scheduled to play at KWC Saturday before coming to Evansville, is 4-6 in 2009-10 after winning its last two games.
USI leads the series with Lake Erie, 1-0, after winning the initial meeting last January, 100-58.
