BOX SCORE: USI 59, UMSL 44; Photo Gallery
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The 2nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team
started homecoming week with a 59-44 victory over the University of Missouri-St. Louis Thursday evening in the Physical Activities Center. USI raised its perfect record to 20-0 overall and 11-0 in the GLVC, while UMSL fell to 10-12, 4-9 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles remain tied for the best record in college basketball after NCAA Division II top-ranked Arkansas Tech University survived a scare on the road with a 79-69 overtime win. Both teams also are tied for the longest winning streak in the country which now stands at 20 games.
USI opened its first home game in over a month with a 12-2 run, but UMSL slowed the Eagles' offense and cut the lead to one point three times before halftime. The Eagles used a 5-0 run in the final 1:30 of the first half and led 26-20 at the intermission.
In the second half, USI took command of the game and never let UMSL get to within eights the rest of the way. The Eagles extended the lead to as many as 23 points, 51-28, with 8:59 left to play before cruising to the 59-44 win.
The 59 points was the lowest offensive output of the year by the Eagles, who made the most of the 52 shots. The Eagle defense also clamped down on the Tritons, holding them to only 38 shots and 39.5 percent from the field (15-38).
Individually, senior guards Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois) and Marvin Gray (Freeport, Bahamas) led the way offensively for the Eagles. Smith dropped in 14 points, 10 coming in the first 20 minutes, while Gray scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
USI outrebounded UMSl, 30-26, and was led on the glass by senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio), who tied for the game-high with seven rebounds. Bradshaw also had three blocks in the game.
The Eagles return to action Saturday when they host Rockhurst University for homecoming. Game time is 3:15 p.m. The Hawks fell to 14-8 overall and 9-3 in the GLVC after losing at the University of Indianapolis, 79-64.
FAN NOTE: The USI-UMSL men's and women's basketball games will be televised tape-delayed Friday at 6 p.m. on WTSN, digital channel 36 (Insight Cable 186; Time Warner Cable 14).
