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SCORE: #11 USI 75, #1 Bellarmine 72

USI overcomes 16 point deficit to win

Tweet #USI_Athletics EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 11^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team overcame 16-point first half deficits to knock off top-ranked Bellarmine University, 75-72, Thursday night at the Physical Activities Center.  USI rises to 20-4 overall and 12-4 in the GLVC, while Bellarmine goes to 22-2, 14-2 GLVC.
 
The victory over a number one ranked team in the country is the first for the Screaming Eagles since the 2004 Elite Eight semifinals when USI defeated Metropolitan State University, 83-81. USI did defeat second-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College in January, one day before the Panthers rose to the top spot in the country.
 
The evening did not start on a positive note for the Eagles as they fell behind early and trailed by as many as 16 points three times in the opening half. The third time was a 32-16 deficit with 9:45 remaining before halftime.
 
After shooting 28.6 percent (4-14) through the first seven minutes of the game, USI caught fire in the final nine minutes. The Eagles went on a 26-10 run and shot 70 percent (14-20) in a nine minute span to pull within a point at the intermission, 43-42. Senior guard Brandon Hogg (Edwardsville, Illinois) scored 11 of his 15 first half points during the run.
 
The second half saw the Knights quick re-extend the lead to three points twice before USI rallied to take its first lead of the game, 48-47. Bellarmine would move back in front for another four minutes when USI snatched the lead back, 54-52, with 12:01 to play.
 
The next six minutes would feature four ties and four lead changes before USI went ahead for the final time on back-to-back three-point field goals by sophomore guard Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois). Thomas' second three-pointer came with one tick on the shot clock.
 
With USI leading 71-65, Bellarmine would not go quietly as it cut the margin to as close as two points, 74-72 with six seconds left. Sophomore forward Austin Davis (Freeport, Illinois) finalized the game with one of two free throws to give the contest an ending score of  75-72.
 
Hogg and senior forward Isaac McClure (Paducah, Kentucky) celebrated Senior Day as the top two scorers for the Eagles. Hogg finished the game with a game-high 23 points and three assists, two coming on Thomas' second half three-point field goals.
 
McClure finished with his third double-double of the year, 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hogg followed McClure on the board with nine rebounds, seven on the defensive end.
 
The win keeps the Eagles tied for second in the GLVC East Division with 15^th-ranked Northern Kentucky University, who upset 12^th-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College, 67-55, this evening. GLVC East leading Bellarmine University remains first in the division by two games, while KWC falls to fourth place.
 
One win in USI's final two games secures a first round bye for the Eagles in the GLVC Tournament .
 
USI goes on the road for the remainder of the 2011-12 schedule, playing Saturday afternoon at NKU in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Tip-off is 2:15 p.m. (CST). The Norse are 20-4 overall and 12-4 in the GLVC after tonight's win.
 
The Eagles finish the regular season campaign February 23 when they travel to KWC for a 7:30 p.m. contest.