EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team cruised to its third-straight victory to start 2010-11 with a 90-68 win over McKendree University Tuesday night at the Physical Activities Center. USI is 3-0 with one game left in the four-game homestand, while McKendree falls to 2-4.

 

The Screaming Eagles used a 20-4 run midway through the first half to take control of the game. USI would lead by as many as 19 points twice in opening 20 minutes before settling for the 17-point halftime lead, 50-33.

 

In the second half, the Eagles picked up where they left off at the intermission. USI extended the advantage to 21 points, 54-35 in the opening minute of the second stanza and expanded the margin to 26 points twice.  

 

USI senior guard #C.J. Trotter# (Hopkinsville, Kentucky) led the Eagles' offensive attack with 21 points. Trotter was a blistering eight-of-11 from the field, three-of-five from beyond the three-point arc, and a perfect two-of-two from the charity stripe.

 

Junior forward Isaac McClure (Paducah, Kentucky) followed Trotter in the scoring column with 19 points. McClure also was red hot from the field, hitting nine-of-12 field goals, while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.

 

The USI double-figure scorers were rounded out by senior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo). Ntumba dropped in 16 points on eight-of-10 from the field and followed McClure in the rebounding column with seven. USI outrebounded the opposition for the third straight game, 40-24.

 

Overall, the Eagles shot a blistering 63.5 percent from the field (40-63) and connected on 55.6 percent from beyond the arc (5-9). Senior guard Kevin Gant (Indianapolis, Indiana) contributed to the red-hot shooting percentage by dishing out eight assists.

 

USI concludes its four-game season-opening homestand November 23 when it hosts Brescia University. Tip-off next Tuesday is 7 p.m.