KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The seventh-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team started a five-game road swing with an 81-61 victory at Rockhurst University Friday night in Kansas City, Missouri. USI raises its record to 19-2 overall and 11-2 in the GLVC, while Rockhurst falls to 5-16, 3-10 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles took command early, using an 11-0 run to post an 18-7 advantage with 14:32 remaining in the first half. USI shot a blistering 80 percent from the field in the first six minutes after hitting eight of its first 10 shots.
After USI extended the lead to 13 points, Rockhurst chipped away at the margin and pulled back to within four points three times through the midway part of the half. The Eagles reestablished control with a 14-6 run and closed out the first 20 minutes with a 47-33 lead.
USI kept the game out of Rockhurst's reach in the second half, never letting the lead fall below 12 points. The Eagles would lead by as many as 24 points twice in the final six minutes.
By the end of the contest, USI had shot 56.9 percent from the field (33-58) and outrebounded Rockhurst, 49-27.
USI senior center
Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa,Congo) led the Eagles by posting his ninth double-double of the season. He had a game-high 17 points and 14 rebounds, while blocking three shots and dishing out three assists to pace the Eagles.
Ntumba was followed in the scoring column by junior forward
Isaac McClure (Paducah, Kentucky), who had 12 points, and senior guard
Kevin Gant (Indianapolis, Indiana), who dropped in 10 points. Gant also had a game-high and season-best nine assists.
The Eagles finish this part of the five-game road swing Sunday at 2 p.m. when they travel to the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Triton lost Kentucky Wesleyan College at home tonight, 76-61, and saw their record fall to 14-7 overall and 8-5 in the GLVC.
