Eagles have strong second half in loss

Box Score: Purdue 65, USI 49 
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The NCAA Division II 12th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team won the second half, but lost an exhibition game at Purdue University, 65-49, Sunday afternoon in West Lafayette, Indiana.
 
The Screaming Eagles spotted the Boilermakers an 8-0 lead in the opening minutes of the first half before they could get in sync. USI clawed its way back into the game and knotted up the score, 16-16, with 9:10 left in the half.
 
After the teams traded missed opportunities, Purdue regained control and exploded for a 12-0 run to take a 28-16 lead. The Boilermakers would extend the margin to a first-half best 20 points, 38-20, by the intermission. 
 
The Eagles regrouped in the second half and outscored the Boilermakers, 31-27, in the final stanza. USI was able to cut the 22-point second half deficit to 13 points twice in the second half, 56-43 and 58-45, but that was as close as the Eagles would come in the final six minutes.
 
USI was led by sophomore guard Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois), who scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the second half. Thomas was followed by senior guard Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois) and sophomore forward Taylor Wischmeier (Brownstown, Indiana) with 11 points and 10 points, respectively.
 
Wischmeier also led USI on the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds, six coming on the offensive end. USI was outrebounded as a team, 43-36.
 
The Eagles open the 2011-12 regular season campaign November 13 at 3 p.m. when they host Ohio Dominican University at the Physical Activities Center. The season opener tips off a four-game homestand to start the year.