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SCORE: USI 69, NKU 68

Thomas hits game winner
with 2 seconds to play

Tweet #usibbEVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana sophomore guard Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois) scored with 2.3 seconds to play to lift the eighth-ranked Screaming Eagles to a 69-68 victory over ninth-ranked Northern Kentucky University Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. USI raises its record to 16-3 overall and 8-3 in the GLVC, while NKU falls to 15-4, 7-4 GLVC.
 
Thomas led a USI rally that overcame a 12-point deficit with 3:43 to play by scoring eight of his game-high 17 points in the final three minutes. The sophomore guard dropped in 12 second half points by hitting five-of-eight from the field and two-of-two from the free throw line.
 
USI junior guard Travis Jones (Carmi,  Illinois) also was a major contributor to the Eagles' game-winning rally, hitting back-to-back three-point field goals with 3:05 and 1:45 to play. The long-range field goals cut the deficit to five and three points, setting the stage for Thomas, who scored the Eagles' final six points in the win.
 
The match-up of two top-10 teams did not start well for the Eagles, who shot just 36 percent in the first half (9-25) and trailed by as many as 19 points during the opening 20 minutes. USI got the final two buckets of the first half and went into the locker room trailing 39-24 at the intermission.
 
USI sophomore forward Taylor Wischmeier (Brownstown, Indiana) hit back-to-back jumpers to start the second half and start an 18-6 run. The run put USI down by three, 47-44, with 11:47 to play.
 
The Norse rallied back and re-extended the margin to 13 points, 59-46, with 8:21 left. The margin would remain in double-digits until USI's final rally.

Thomas, who also had a game-high six assists. was joined in double-figures by senior forward Isaac McClure (Paducah, Kentucky) and junior guard Kenyon Smith (Chicago, Illinois) with 12 points each. Smith paced the Eagles in the first half with 10 points, hitting four-of-five from the field with two three-point field goals.
 
On the glass, USI outrebounded the Norse, 30-23, in the game and was led by Smith, who had a team-high six rebounds. The Eagles were much better from the field in the second half, shooting 62.1 percent (18-29), and finished the game at 50 percent (27-54).
 
USI returns to action Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when it goes on the road to play Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and start a two-game road swing. The Eagles complete the road swing February 4 at 3:15 p.m. when they travel to 21st-ranked University of Indianapolis February 4.