EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 11th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team resumes GLVC Tournament action in the semifinals Saturday at noon when it plays the winner of the second round match-up between Drury University and Lewis University at Maryville University's Moloney Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. USI is the second seed in the tournament, while Drury and Lewis are the third and sixth seed, respectively.
The Screaming Eagles (23-4) are coming off a 28-point first-round win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at the Physical Activities Center. Senior center
Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo), who had a double-double by halftime, led the Eagles in the win with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Senior guard #C.J. Trotter# (Hopkinsville, Kentucky) leads USI with 14.9 points per game this season and should be looking forward to a return trip to St. Louis. Trotter has averaged 27 points per game in his last two trips to St. Louis, recording a career-high 28 points in his visit to Maryville last year and 26 points at the University of Missouri-St. Louis this year.
Ntumba follows Trotter in the scoring column with 13.7 points per contest, while dominating the boards with 8.3 rebounds per appearance.
The Panthers of Drury (21-6) opened post-season action with a 67-61 victory at home over Saint Joseph's College. Drury has won five in a row and 12 of its last 13 games.
USI leads the all-time series with Drury, 7-4, after defeating the Panthers, 75-65, at the PAC in January. The Eagles also won the only meeting with the Panthers on a neutral floor in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, 78-58, in 2006.
The Flyers of Lewis (17-13) upset the University of Indianapolis on the road, 69-67, to start conference tournament play. Lewis broke a two-game losing skid with the win after struggling to go .500 in the last six games.
The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Flyers, 38-21, including the 75-71 victory at the PAC in January. USI also holds a 2-0 lead in neutral site games against Lewis.
In the opposite bracket, top-seeded Bellarmine University is scheduled to play the winner of fourth-seeded Northern Kentucky University and fifth-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan College. The championship game is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m.
NABC/Division II Coaches Poll (March 1, 2011)
1. West Liberty, W.Va. (8 first place votes) 26-0
2. Bellarmine, Ky. 25-2
3. Humboldt State, Calif. 24-2
4. Alabama-Huntsville 25-3
5. Augusta State, Ga. 25-3
6. Minnesota State 23-3
7. Central Oklahoma 25-3
8. Missouri Southern 23-3
9. Findlay, Ohio 23-3
10. Central Washington 23-3
11. Southern Indiana 23-4
12. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 24-2
13. Arkansas Tech 22-4
14. Mary, N.D. 22-4
15. Tarleton State, Texas 22-4
16. Bowie State, Md. 22-4
17. Harding, Ark. 22-4
18. Colorado School of Mines 22-4
19. Fort Hays State, Kan. 22-6
20. Cal State-Dominguez Hills 20-6
21. Rollins, Fla. 22-6
22. Bentley, Mass. 20-6
23. Ferris State, Mich. 20-6
24. (tie) Benedict, S.C. 20-6
(tie) West Texas A&M 22-5
Others receiving votes: Hillsdale (Mich.), Indiana (Pa.), American International (Mass.), Northern Kentucky, Drury (Mo.), Metropolitan State (Colo.), Georgia Southwestern, Stonehill (Mass.).
