BOX SCORE: USI 78, UW-Parkside 67
KENOSHA, Wis. — The 2nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team won its school-record 18th-straight game with a 78-67 victory at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Thursday evening in Kenosha, Wisconsin. USI, which is one of two undefeated teams left in the country, takes its records to 18-0 overall and 9-0 in the GLVC, while UW-Parkside falls to 8-13, 3-9 GLVC.
The 18-straight wins and 18-0 overall mark ties USI with Division II's top-ranked Arkansas Tech University for the nation's longest winning streak and the best record. The next game for Arkansas Tech is Saturday at Christian Brothers University.
The Screaming Eagles started slow in the first half and was only able to generate a 17-14 lead with just over eight minutes before halftime. USI turned up the heat on the offensive end before the intermission, going on a 21-11 run, and led 38-25 at the intermission.
The Eagles, who only shot 40 percent from the field in the opening half (14-35), were led in the first half by senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois). Smith, who was held scoreless in the first half last week at the University of Indianapolis, dropped in 15 points in the first 20 minutes against UW-Parkside.
Senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio), who was USI's main offensive threat in the first 10 minutes of the half, followed Smith in the scoring column with seven points in the opening half.
USI emerged from the locker room to quickly extend its lead from 13 to 18 points, 50-32, before the first media timeout. The Eagles pushed the lead to 19-points, 65-46, but the Rangers went on an 11-2 run to cut the margin to 67-57 with 4:54 to play.
The Eagles regrouped and raised the defensive intensity, resulting in a 5-0 run to regain control of the game. USI would cruise the rest of the way to win 78-67. The Eagles forced the Rangers into 27 turnovers in the game.
USI finished the game with four players scoring in double figures, led by the 21-point performance of Smith. The senior guard was followed by Bradshaw's 15 points, while junior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo) and junior guard Kevin Gant (Indianapolis, Indiana) with 12 points and 10 points, respectively, to round out the double-figure scorers.
Gant, who ranks second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio, had a game-high six assists and just one turnover.
The Eagles conclude the nearly month-long road trip at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, Saturday at 3:15 p.m. The Flyers fell to 12-8 overall and 4-7 in the GLVC when they lost at home to Kentucky Wesleyan College, 77-65, Thursday night.
USI will play at home for the first time in a month February 4 when it hosts the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
