Eagles hit the road after Thursday

Game Notes 
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 11^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team concludes regular season home schedule when it welcomes top-ranked and GLVC East leading Bellarmine University to the Physical Activities Center Thursday for Senior Day. Game time is 7:30 p.m. and the public is encouraged to wear red to the game.
 
USI plans to honor its four seniors prior to the game Thursday night.
 
The Screaming Eagles (19-4, 11-4 GLVC) are back on track after winning the first two games of their three-game homestand, defeating the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 77-50, and Lewis University, 70-63. Senior forward Isaac McClure led the Eagles in the victories with 21.0 points per game, including a career-high 22 in the win over Lewis.
 
For the season, senior guard Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois) tops the scoring column and ranks ninth in the GLVC with 15.9 points per game. McClure follows with 14.3 points per contest.
 
Nationally, USI rose in the NABC/Division II Top 25 poll, moving up three spots to 11^th. The first NCAA Division II Regional rankings will be released Wednesday.
 
Within the GLVC, the Eagles are in a three-way tie for second in the East Division, three games behind Bellarmine, and would be the third seed in the GLVC Tournament if the season ended today. The top four seeds in the GLVC Tournament (the two division winners and the two teams with the next best records) receive a bye in the February 26 first round games and would advance to the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals in Springfield, Illinois.
 
The road to securing one of the top four seeds is not going to be easy for the Eagles, who finish the season with Bellarmine Thursday a home; 15^th-ranked Northern Kentucky University Saturday in Highland Heights, Kentucky; and 12^th-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College February 23 in Owensboro, Kentucky. Game times Saturday at NKU and next Thursday at KWC are slated for 7:30 p.m.
 
Bellarmine (22-1, 14-1 GLVC) has continued to roll since winning the NCAA Division II national title last season and has won its last 17 games since losing its only game to the University of Indianapolis in December. The Eagles were one of the Knights' victims last month when USI lost the previous meeting, 67-53, in Louisville,  Kentucky.
 
USI leads the all-time series with Bellarmine, 43-32, but is looking to break a five-game losing streak to the Knights.
 
NKU (19-4, 11-4 GLVC) is hosting USI for the last time as a member of the GLVC Saturday. The Norse, who are moving to the NCAA Division I next season, have won their last four games since losing to Eagles, 69-68, at the PAC in January.
 
The Eagles hold a 48-18 all-time series lead over the Norse and have won the last three meetings. NKU, however, holds a slim 5-4 lead in the last nine games in Highland Heights.
 
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 (Feb. 14, 2012)
                                                                                                       
     1.        Bellarmine, Ky.  (7 first place votes)                       
     2.        West Liberty, W.Va. (1 first place vote)
     3.        Winona State, Minn.                                                   
     4.        Colorado School of Mines                                        
     5.        Tarleton State, Texas
     6.        Alabama-Huntsville
     7.        Midwestern State, Texas
     8.        Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.
     9.        Shaw, N.C.
    10.       Western Washington                                                 
    11.       Southern Indiana                                                        
    12.       Kentucky Wesleyan                                                   
    13.       Christian Brothers, Tenn.                                          
    14.       Northwest Missouri State                                          
    15.       Northern Kentucky                                                     
    16.       Missouri Southern                                                      
    17.       Indiana, Pa.                                                                 
    18.       Metropolitan State, Colo.                                          
    19.       Bowie State, Md.                                                         
    20.       Arkansas Tech                                                            
    21.       Alaska-Anchorage                                                     
    22.       District of Columbia                                                   
    23.       South Carolina Aiken                                                
    24.       Anderson, S.C.                                                            
    25.       Indianapolis, Ind.                                                        
     
Others receiving votes: Montevallo (Ala.), Eckerd (Fla.), Seattle Pacific (Wash.), Charleston (W.Va.), King (Tenn.), West Georgia, Adelphi (N.Y.), Dixie State (Utah), LIU-C.W. Post (N.Y.), Hillsdale (Mich.), Chico State (Calif.) 1, Florida Tech, Franklin Pierce (N.H.), St. Cloud State (Minn.).