Eagles travel to Rockhurst and William Jewell
 
COMPLETE USI GAME NOTES
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The eighth-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team opens the new year and the 2013-14 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule on the road when it travels to Rockhurst University Friday and William Jewell College Sunday. Game time Friday at Rockhurst (4-4, 0-1 GLVC) is 7:30 p.m., while tip-off Sunday at William Jewell (5-4, 1-0 GLVC) is 3:15 p.m.
 
Game coverage for the first weekend of GLVC action, including live stats, audio, and video links, is available at gousieagles.com. The USI games also can be heard on ESPN 106.7FM and WPSR 90.7FM.
 
The Screaming Eagles (8-0, 0-0 GLVC) were perfect through the eight games of the non-conference schedule, including the 80-68 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College before the holiday break. USI senior forward Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) continued his dominance to start the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
 
Nelson, who tied the USI record for consecutive double-doubles in the win over KWC, leads the Eagles with 22.3 points and 13.4 rebounds per game.
 
The victory over KWC propelled the Eagles to eighth in the NABC/Division II Top 25 poll, moving up one slot since the final ranking before the holiday break. USI was joined in the top 25 by GLVC rivals Bellarmine University (second), Drury University (third), the University of Indianapolis (16^th), and Lewis University (22^nd).
 
The Eagles are slated to play Drury University January 11 in the second game of a four-game homestand in January. USI also has two cracks at Bellarmine with the first on the road January 20 and the second at the PAC in the regular-season finale February 27.
 
USI Men's Basketball notes versus Rockhurst and William Jewell:
 
USI vs. GLVC since 1992-93. The Eagles have been dominating in the GLVC since 1992-93, posting a regular season conference record of 313-84 (.788). Between 1992 and 2011, USI has had at least 14 wins 20 times, posted 16 or more wins eight times, and won seven regular season conference titles.

Eagles are 8-0 again. USI is 8-0 for the third time in the last five years and the ninth time in the history of the program. The best start for the Eagles was in 2009-10 when they won 23 in a row in the first season under Head Coach Rodney Watson.

Nelson and Eagles leading the nation in rebounding. The Screaming Eagles lead the nation in rebound margin with a 45.6-27.9 advantage over its opponents. Senior forward Aaron Nelson also leads the NCAA Division II with 13.9 rebounds per contest and 97 total rebounds.

Eagles ranked nationally in shooting. USI is ranked sixth nationally in field goal percentage, 53.6 percent (269-502).

Nelson has opponents seeing double. Senior forward Aaron Nelson has a GLVC-best and USI-record tying eight double-doubles this season. The eight double-doubles also ranks third in the NCAA Division II and ties the USI record of eight set by Chris Bowles to start the 1991-92 season. Bowles went on to post a USI-record 18 double-doubles that season.

Eagles completes "Battle for the Bridge" sweep. USI completed the season sweep of the "Battle for the Bridge" series with Kentucky Wesleyan College, 80-68, before the holiday break. The Eagles are 15-9 against the Panthers since the rivalry was named the "Battle for the Bridge" in 2000-01.

USI's defense was dominant KWC. The Eagles outrebounded the Panthers, 31-9 on the defensive boards in the victory and held KWC below 20 percent from the field through most of the first half.

USI shooting for its 11^th  GLVC title. The Eagles start GLVC action in search of its 11^th GLVC title since the league was created in 1979-80.  USI last conference title came in 2012 when it won the GLVC Tournament in Springfield, Illinois. The first seven titles came prior to the GLVC Tournament format.

Rockhurst in 2013-14. The Hawks of Rockhurst are 4-4 in 2013-14 and are coming off a 114-33 win over Calvary Bible College. Rockhurst has won two of its last three, but suffered a GLVC-opening loss at William Jewell, 97-94, on a last second shot.

The last time USI played at Rockhurst. The last time USI played at Rockhurst was in the 2011-12 season. USI won 63-31 and was led by the 17-point, 10-rebound performance by Isaac McClure.

William Jewell in 2013-14. The Cardinals of William Jewell are 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the GLVC in 2013-14 and are coming off a 102-67 victory over Ottwa University. William Jewell, which has won three of its last four games, plays second-ranked Bellarmine University Friday before hosting the Eagles.

The last time USI played at William Jewell. The Eagles battled through ice and snow the last time they traveled to William Jewell, but prevailed 80-71. Brandon Hogg led three Eagles in double figures with 25 points.
 
 

NABC/Division II Rankings (Dec. 31, 2013)
1.	West Liberty
2.	Bellarmine
3.	Drury
4.	Florida Southern
5.	Metropolitan State
6.	Indiana (Pa.)
7.	Dixie State
8.	Southern Indiana
9.	Tarleton State
10.	East Stroudsburg
11.	Seattle Pacific
12.	Findlay
13.	Colo. School of Mines
14.	Minnesota State
15.	Western Washington
16.	Indianapolis
17.	Montevallo
18.	Lincoln Memorial
19.	Cal St.-San Bernardino
20.	Franklin Pierce
21.	Chico State
22.	Lewis
23.	Alaska-Anchorage
24.	Georgia Southwestern
25.	Barry