Eagles remain 7th in latest poll

Tweet #usimbb; USI Men's Basketball Game Notes 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team leaves the Physical Activities Center for the first time this season when it travels to Louisville, Kentucky, for Bellarmine University's Fern Valley Hotel Classic. The Screaming Eagles are set to play Nova Southeastern University Friday and the University of Cincinnati Clermont Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. (CST) each day.
 
Coverage, including live stats and audio/video broadcasts, is available at gousieagles.com. The USI action also can be heard on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM.
 
The Eagles are coming off a 95-84 victory over Notre Dame College that completed a sweep of the season-opening five-game homestand. USI had four starters score in double figures, led by the 22-point effort of junior forward Orlando Rutledge (Louisville, Kentucky). Junior forward Taylor Wischmeier (Brownstown, Indiana) followed with his first-collegiate double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Despite picking up its fifth-straight win, USI remained seventh in the NABC/Division II Top-25 poll. The Eagles have risen five spots throughout the first four polls since being ranked 12^th in the preseason.
 
USI is making its fourth appearance in the Fern Valley Hotel Classic and has posted a perfect 6-0 mark in three previous trips. The Eagles defeated St. Catharine College, 65-62, and Ohio Valley College, 90-64, in last year's classic.
 
The Sharks of Nova Southeastern (2-1) won two of their first three games and play for the first time in 16 days when they travel to Saint Leo University Tuesday. Friday's match-up between USI and Nova Southeastern will be the first meeting between the two men's basketball programs.
 
The Cougars of UC Clermont (4-8) started the year with four-straight loses, but are .500 in the last eight games. Saturday's contest between USI and UC Clermont is the first meeting between the two teams.
 
Following action in the Fern Valley Hotel Classic, the Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the PAC to host Cedarville University and start a three-game homestand.

 NABC/Division II Top 25
  1.  West Liberty, W.Va.
  2.  Washburn, Kan.
  3.  Metropolitan State, Colo.
  4.  Alabama-Huntsville
  5.  Bellarmine, Ky.
  6.  Western Washington
  7.  Southern Indiana
  8.  Cal Poly Pomona
  9.  Seattle Pacific, Wash.
10. Northwest Missouri State
11. St. Cloud State, Minn.
12. Franklin Pierce, N.H.
13. Kentucky Wesleyan
14. Indianapolis, Ind.
15. Augusta State, Ga.
16. Barton, N.C.
17. Assumption, Mass.
18. Indiana, Pa.
19. Drury, Mo.
20. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.
21. Minnesota State
22. Tampa, Fla.
23. Winston-Salem State, N.C.
24. Findlay, Ohio
25. Alaska-Anchorage
 
Others receiving votes: King (Tenn.), Newman (Kan.), Winona State (Minn.), Florida Southern, Colorado Mesa, Christian Brothers (Tenn.), Adams State (Colo.), Augustana (S.D.), Wayne State (Mich.), West Texas A&M, Cal State-San Bernardino, Maryville (Mo.), Anderson (S.C.), Michigan Tech, Post (Conn.), East Stroudsburg (Pa.), Massachusetts-Lowell, North Alabama, Colorado School of Mines, Grand Canyon (Ariz.), Shepherd (W.Va.).