Eagles finish week at home versus #9 NKU
Game Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The eighth-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team travels to play top-ranked Bellarmine University Thursday before finishing the week at home Saturday against ninth-ranked Northern Kentucky University. Tip-off Thursday at Bellarmine is 7 p.m. (CST), while the start time Saturday at the Physical Activities Center versus NKU is slated for 3:15 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles, who dropped one slot this week in the NABC/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, are coming off a 2-1 homestand that included a 72-57 victory over second-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College. USI lost the second game of the homestand to the University of Indianapolis, 59-56, but got back on track in the third contest of the week with a victory over Saint Joseph's College, 85-62.
Senior guard
Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois) led USI during the homestand with 14.7 points per game, while senior forward
Isaac McClure (Paducah, Kentucky) averaged 12.3 points per appearance.
For the season, Hogg is the team leader and ranks seventh in the GLVC with 17.2 points per game. McClure follows Hogg in the USI scoring column with 14.1 points per contest.
USI junior guard
Kenyon Smith (Chicago, Illinois) leads the Eagles on the glass with 6.3 rebounds per contest. Smith, who is the smallest player among the GLVC's top-10 rebounders by an average of 7.3 inches, ranks eighth in the conference in clearing the glass.
The Knights of Bellarmine (16-1, 8-1 GLVC) are in the middle of an 11-game winning streak and leads the GLVC East Division by one game. Bellarmine, who took three games from USI last year, also ranks first in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage.
USI leads the all-time series with Bellarmine, 43-31, after last season. The Eagles, who is 15-8 against the Knights since 2000, have won six of the last 11 games at Knights Hall.
The Norse of NKU (15-2, 7-2 GLVC), who hosts KWC Thursday night before coming to the PAC, have won their last two games and four of the last six. NKU is the Division II's top three-point shooting team (43.9 percent; 175-399) and features senior guard Jon Van Hoose, who is dropping in a Division II-best 3.9 three-pointers per contest.
The Eagles have a 47-18 all-time series lead with the Norse after winning both meetings last year. Saturday's match-up will be NKU's final visit to the PAC as a member of the GLVC.
Game coverage for both contests, including live stats and audio broadcasts, is available at gousieagles.com. The games also can be heard on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM.
NABC/Division II Coaches Poll (Jan. 24, 2012)
1. Bellarmine (Ky.) (8 first place votes) (GLVC)
2. West Liberty (W.Va.)
3. Metropolitan State (Colo.)
4. Tarleton State (Texas)
5. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.)
6. Winona State (Minn.)
7. Kentucky Wesleyan (GLVC)
8. Southern Indiana (GLVC)
9. Northern Kentucky (GLVC)
10. Midwestern State (Texas)
11. Colorado School of Mines
12. Alabama-Huntsville
13. St. Cloud State (Minn.)
14. Missouri Southern
15. Christian Brothers (Tenn.)
16. Indiana (Pa.)
17. Shaw (N.C.)
18. Western Washington
19. Bowie State (Md.)
20. Hillsdale (Mich.)
21. Indianapolis (Ind.) (GLVC)
22. West Georgia
23. Fort Hays State (Kan.)
24. South Carolina Aiken
25. Alaska-Anchorage
Others receiving votes: Minnesota State-Moorhead, Arkansas-Monticello, Winston-Salem State (N.C.), Adelphi (N.Y.), Montevallo (Ala.), Northwest Missouri State, Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.), C.W. Post (N.Y.), Anderson (S.C.), Bemidji State (Minn.), Bentley (Mass.), Florida Tech, Missouri-St. Louis (GLVC).
