OWENSBORO, Ky. – The sixth-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team lost for the first time on the road this season, losing to rival Kentucky Wesleyan College, 84-77, Monday night at the Sportscenter. USI falls to 21-3 overall and 13-3 in the GLVC, while KWC goes to 16-8, 9-8 GLVC.
The loss snapped USI's five-game winning streak and ended its run of five-straight wins at the Sportscenter. USI also is 3-1 on the five-game road swing.
The Panthers took command in the final three minutes with a 12-2 burst and hit 13-of-14 from the line in the final minute to win by seven, 84-77. KWC weathered eight second half lead changes before its final run.
The final burst of offense by the Panthers came after the Eagles had overcome a 10-point deficit to take the lead, 63-62, with a 12-2 run of their own. USI senior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo) scored nine of his 12 points during the run, but fouled out with 1:45 to play.
KWC forced the USI run by putting the Eagles in a 60-50 deficit with 5:46 left. The Panthers built the margin with a 14-3 rush after the sixth lead change of the half.
The first half was much like the second half, featuring seven lead changes and three ties. It was the Panthers, however, that took a 31-29 advantage into the intermission. The Eagles, who had three starters in foul trouble for most of the opening 20 minutes, had a four-point lead 12 minutes into the half, while the Panthers had a seven-point advantage with 5:18 remaining before break.
Individually, USI was led in the scoring column by senior guard Jared Rehmel (Jasonville, Indiana) with 16 points. He was followed by the 14-point games of junior guard Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois) and junior forward Isaac McClure (Paducah, Kentucky), while the 12 points by Ntumba and the 10 points by senior forward #C.J. Trotter# (Hopkinsville, Kentucky) rounded out the double figure scorers.
The Eagles conclude the five-game road swing Thursday at 7 p.m. (CST) when they travel to second-ranked Bellarmine University. The Knights are 23-1 overall and 16-0 in the GLVC after defeating the University of Indianapolis, 80-70, at home this evening.
