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SCORE: #7 USI 72, #2 KWC 57
#7 Eagles soar over #2 Panthers, 72-57
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The seventh-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team won the first round of the 2011-12 “Battle for the Bridge” with a 72-57 victory over second-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College Monday evening in front of a sellout crowd at the Physical Activities Center. USI rises to 14-1 overall and 6-1 in the GLVC, while KWC goes to 14-1, 6-1 GLVC.
After the 11 lead changes in the first five minutes of the game, the Screaming Eagles used a 9-0 surge to take a 21-13 advantage with 11:37 left in the first half and never looked back. The Eagles continued to build on the first half margin, leading by as many as 13 points, 34-21, before the Panthers clawed their way back to within eight points by halftime, 40-32.
KWC opened the final half by cutting the lead to five points, 41-36, when USI quickly re-extended the margin to 12 points, 48-36, on lay-ups by junior guard
Kenyon Smith (Chicago, Illinois) and sophomore guard
Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois) and a three-point field goal by senior guard
Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois). The Panthers would cut the Eagles' lead back to six, 48-42, with 13:00 remaining, but that would be as close as KWC would come.
Men's Basketball vs KWC 01/16/2016 Gallery
USI systematically pushed the lead back to double-digits and maintained a 10-15 point lead through the final 10 minutes of the game. The Eagles' largest lead was 17 points, 72-55, with 2:21 to play prior to the Panthers getting the final bucket of the game for the 72-57 final.
Hogg and Thomas topped the scoring column for USI with 16 points each, while senior forward
Isaac McClure rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points. Smith dished out a game-high five assists and made three steals.
The Eagles continue their three-game homestand Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when they host the University of Indianapolis. The Greyhounds climbed to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in the GLVC after defeating Saint Joseph's College, 88-86, in Indianapolis.
USI finishes the homestand Saturday at 3:15 p.m. when Saint Joseph's, who is 6-9, 1-6 GLVC, visits the PAC.
