EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The ninth-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team overcame a halftime deficit and flew past the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 93-81, at the Physical Activities Center. USI, which was 3-1 during the homestand, raises its record to 18-2 overall and 10-2 in the GLVC, while UW-Parkside falls to 7-13, 4-9 GLVC.

 

After trailing at the end of the first half, 37-36, the Screaming Eagles rallied past the Rangers in the opening minute of the second half and took command for the final 18 minutes. USI methodically pulled away from UW-Parkside, building a 15-point lead, 80-65, with 3:33 remaining. The 15-point advantage would be the largest lead of the contest for the Eagles.

 

The Rangers closed the gap to within eight points, 89-81, with 27 seconds left before the Eagles closed out the 12-point victory.

 

The first half featured both teams fighting for control as they battled to five ties and 14 lead changes. UW-Parkside won the opening half with a 6-0 run and took the one-point lead into the intermission.

 

Both teams shot well in the game with the Eagles dropping in buckets at a 56.9 percent clip (33-58), while the Rangers were just off the pace at 53.3 percent from the field (32-60). USI won the battle on the boards by outrebounding UW-Parkside, 37-23.

 

Senior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo) and senior guard #C.J. Trotter# (Hopkinsville, Kentucky) led five Eagles in double figures with 20 points each. Numba, who also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, was 8-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe, while Trotter hit 8-of-12 from the field, including two three-point field goals, and 2-of-3 from the line.

 

Ntumba and Trotter were followed by senior forward Nick Duncheon (Montgomery, Indiana), who dropped in 12 points, while senior guard Kevin Gant (Indianapolis, Indiana) and junior guard Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois) had 11 points and 10 points, respectively.

 

USI starts a five-game road swing Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri, when the Eagles travel to play Rockhurst University. The Eagles return east to finish the first leg of the road trip February 5 in St. Louis, Missouri, when they visit the University of Missouri-St. Louis.