BOX SCORE: USI 110, UIS 68 | Photo Gallery
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois) dropped in a career-high 40 points as the 10th-ranked Screaming Eagles outshined the Prairie Stars of the University of Illinois-Springfield, 110-68, Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. USI rises to 12-0 overall and 3-0 in the GLVC, while UIS falls to 4-4, 1-2 GLVC.
Smith is only the second player in USI history to score 40-or-more points in a game, following only Chris Bowles' 45 points at Northern Kentucky University in 1990-91. The 40 points also are the most by a USI player since the Eagles moved into the PAC in 1980-81.
Following Smith in the scoring column was senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio), senior center Jeron Lewis (Ft. Wayne, Indiana), and junior guard Kevin Gant (Indianapolis, Indiana) with 14 points each. The 14 points were a career-high for Gant, who also dished out a game-high six assists.
Lewis led the Eagles on the glass with a game-high eight rebounds, while Bradshaw blocked a game-best three shots.
The Eagles also crossed the century mark for a school-record fifth straight game with their 110-point performance. USI has outscored the opposition, 107.2-58.2 in the last five contests.
The game tipped off with the Eagles flying out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back as they soared to a 55-25 advantage by the intermission. The Eagles continued their torrid offensive pace in the second half, extending the lead to as many as 48 points four times in the final 20 minutes and settled for the 42-point, 110-68 win.
USI concludes the five-game homestand Monday when it hosts Saint Joseph's College for 7:30 p.m. contest. The Pumas fell to 6-5 overall and 0-3 in the GLVC after losing at Kentucky Wesleyan College, 102-92, this afternoon.
The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Pumas, 43-20, and are 15-4 against SJC since 2000. USI won the only meeting last year, 81-62, last year at the PAC.
FAN NOTE: The USI-UIS men's and women's basketball games on Saturday will be televised tape-delayed Sunday at 6 p.m. on WTSN, digital channel 36 (Insight Cable 186; Time Warner Cable 14).
