Eagles rise to 14th nationally
 
USI GAME NOTES FOR BILL JOERGENS MEMORIAL CLASSIC; Tweet #GoUSIEagles
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 14^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team is set to host the seventh-annual Bill Joergens Memorial Classic Friday and Saturday at the Physical Activities Center. Game times are 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. each night.
 
The classic is named for Bill Joergens, who played on the first USI men's basketball team in the late 1960s and continued his support of USI Athletics by becoming chair of the Varsity Club. A part of Joergens' legacy is the development of the Varsity Club Steak Fry and Auction, which has raised nearly $500,000 since 1992.
 
Upon losing his battle with cancer, Joergens left a major portion of his estate to the USI men's basketball program. The estate funds the tournament and fifth-year scholarship aid for USI men's basketball players, who have exhausted their eligibility.
 
The 2013 classic will feature USI (2-0), third-ranked Bellarmine University (2-0), King University (2-2), and Indiana University Southeast (5-1). Classic coverage, including live stats and audio links, is available at gousieagles.com. The games, involving USI, also can be heard on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM.
 
USI Men's Basketball Bill Joergens Memorial Classic Notes:
 
Eagles are 14^th in second poll of 2013-14. The University of Southern Indiana rose three slots to 14^th in the second NABC/Division II poll of 2013-14. The Screaming Eagles have been ranked 145 of the last 177 Division II ranking weeks since 2000, including 76 weeks in the top 10 and four weeks at number one.

Nelson named GLVC Player of the Week. Senior forward Aaron Nelson was named the GLVC Player of the Week after his efforts against Kentucky Wesleyan College and Lake Erie College. Nelson posted 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win at KWC and completed the week with 31 points and 11 rebounds in the home opener versus Lake Erie. Overall, he averaged 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest.

USI wins home opener in dramatic fashion. USI won its 30^th-straight home opener, this time in dramatic fashion, with the last second victory over Lake Erie College, 90-89. Senior guard Lawrence Thomas hit the game-winning three-point field goal with one tick left on the clock.

Career-best games versus Lake Erie.  Senior forwards Aaron Nelson and Manny Ogunfolu posted career numbers against the Storm. Nelson scored a career-high and game-high 31 points, while Ogunfolu scored a career-best 13 points and tied a career-high with 12 rebounds.

A trio of double-doubles in home opener. Seniors Aaron Nelson, Taylor Wischmeier, and Manny Ogunfolu posted double-doubles against Lake Erie. Nelson had 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Wischmeier matched his totals in the season-opener with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ogunfolu rounded out the double-double performances with 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.

Last time three double-doubles in a game. The last time USI had three players post double doubles was 2005-06 when Chris Thompson (18 pts., 12 reb.), Marty Wise (16 pts., 12 reb.), and Keith Christmas (14 pts., 10 reb.) accomplished the feat versus Central State University.

Non-conference foes have tough going against USI. USI has started the year with a pair of non-conference wins and is 178-19 (.904) against non-GLVC teams during the last 21 seasons. Of the 19 losses, two have come in the NCAA Division II Tournament Finals and three in the NCAA II Great Lakes Regional.

Wischmeier has the hot hand. Senior forward Taylor Wischmeier has had the hot hand in the first two games, shooting 76.5 percent (13-17). Wischmeier also hit his first 13 shots of the season. Senior forward Aaron Nelson follows close behind in field goal percentage, converting 69.6 percent from the field (16-23). 

USI in the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic. USI is 11-1 in the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic that began in the 2007-08 season. The Eagles outscored their opponents in the six previous classics, 80.8-62.5 (970-751).

USI vs. King. The Eagles lead the series with the Tornado, 2-0, including the last meeting in 2010-11, 78-70.

USI vs. IU Southeast. USI leads the all-time series with IU Southeast, 18-7, and is 3-0 against the Grenadiers since 2000. The Eagles had to go into overtime the last time they defeated the Grenadiers, 80-74, in the 2011-12 Bill Joergens Memorial Classic at the PAC.