USI MBB GAME NOTES; NATIONAL POLL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team goes on the road in the GLVC for the first time this season when it starts a three-game road swing Thursday at Missouri University of Science & Technology. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The three-game road trip also includes a first-ever stop at Maryville University Saturday at 3:15 p.m. and concludes at Kentucky Wesleyan College January 14 at 7:30 p.m. Game coverage of the Eagles' road trip, including live stats, audio, and video, can be found at www.gousieagles.com.
The Screaming Eagles (13-0, 4-0 GLVC) have been flying high under the direction of Rodney Watson, who is off to the best start in the history of the program by a first-year head coach. Former Head Coach Bruce Pearl did hold the top spot until this year, going 10-3 in his first 13 games in 1992-93.
Included in the 13-0 record are a school record six-straight wins with 100-or-more points in a game. USI has outscored the opposition by an average of 45.2 points over the last six games, 106.5-61.3.
After posting pair of wins last week, USI moved into eighth nationally in the latest NABC/NCAA Division II Top 25. USI is joined in the poll by Kentucky Wesleyan College (13th), Quincy University (16th), and Drury University (18th) from the GLVC. The Eagle win over Saint Joseph's College on Monday will count toward next week's ranking.
A big part of USI flying start is senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois). Smith, who leads the Eagles with 24.6 points per game this season, was recently named the GLVC Player of the Week for the second time this year and the Division II Bulletin December Player of the Month.
The Miners of Missouri S&T (5-7, 1-3 GLVC) have been a .500 team the last six games, going 3-3 with wins over Lincoln University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Freshman guard Bryce Foster leads the way for the Miners with 14.3 points per game and senior guard A.J. Mandani with 12.3 points per contest.
USI leads the all-time series with Missouri S&T, 9-2, and has won all eight games since 2000. Last year, the Eagles swept the Miners 74-63 in Rolla, Missouri, and 94-73 at the PAC.
The Saints of Maryville (2-10, 0-3 GLVC) have had a tough stretch in the last five games, going 1-4. Maryville also lost a high-scoring affair with the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 152-107. Senior guard Eric Gruenwald leads the Saints with 12.5 points per game.
USI won the only meeting between the two schools last year, 92-55.
