Saturday's Homecoming game could be for first place

Game Notes; Tweet #usimbb

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – It is Homecoming week for the 10^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team when they host Lewis University Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Saturday at 3:15 p.m.
 
USI (16-3, 9-2 GLVC) returns to the Physical Activities Center riding a three-game winning streak and winners of seven of the last eight games. The Screaming Eagles also have defeated three top-10 teams during the last eight games.  
 
With two victories last week, the Eagles rose three spots to 10^th in the NABC/Division II Top 25 and are the highest ranked team in the GLVC. Bellarmine fell to 11th, while the University of Indianapolis dropped to 21^st, and Kentucky Wesleyan College tumbled to 23^rd. Drury University from the GLVC West Division also received votes.
 
Leading the way last week was senior center Keith DeWitt (High Point, North Carolina), who earned GLVC Player of the Week honors for his efforts in the wins over then sixth-ranked Bellarmine and McKendree University. DeWitt averaged 19.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, and 3.5 assists, posting back-to-back double-doubles for the week. He dominated Bellarmine with 18 points, 12 rebounds, six blocked shots, and four assists before exploding at McKendree for 20 points and 11 rebounds.
 
USI junior guard Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois) has played a larger role in the Eagles' success over the last two weeks. Thomas has averaged a team-best 15.0 points in the last four games, shooting 53.7 percent from the field (22-41) and 56.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc (9-16).
 
For the season, junior forward Orlando Rutledge (Louisville, Kentucky) is the USI team leader with 15.2 points per contest. DeWitt follows with 12.3 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game, while junior forward Taylor Wischmeier (Brownstown, Indiana) rounds out the double-figure scorers with 11.1 points per appearance.
 
The Flyers of Lewis University (15-2, 7-2 GLVC) got back on track over the weekend with a win over Saint Joseph's College after suffering back-to-back losses to USI and the University of Indianapolis. USI's victory over Lewis, 65-64, two weeks ago in Romeoville, Illinois, came after the Eagles almost let a 19-point lead slip away in the win.
 
The Eagles lead the all-time series with Lewis, 41-21, and hold a 9-2 advantage in games at the PAC since 2000.
 
The Rangers of UW-Parkside (14-5, 9-2 GLVC) are in the middle of their second four-game winning streak of the year, this one beginning with their win over the Eagles two weeks ago. UW-Parkside won that first round match-up, 77-68, in Somers, Wisconsin.
 
USI still leads the all-time series with UW-Parkside, 27-7, and at the PAC since 2000, 7-1. The round two match-up also could be a battle for first in the GLVC East Division, depending upon the outcomes of Thursday's contests. UW-Parkside travels to KWC Thursday before coming to the PAC.
 
Coverage of the Eagles' GLVC games, 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.

NABC/Division II Top 25
  1.   Metropolitan State
  2.  Western Washington
  3.  West Liberty
  4.   Cal Poly Pomona
  5.  Minnesota State
  6.  Seattle Pacific
  7.  Indiana (PA)
  8.  Florida Southern
  9.  Alabama-Huntsville
10. Southern Indiana
11. Bellarmine
12. Winona State
13. East Stroudsburg
14. Adams State
15. Saint Anselm
16. Lincoln Memorial
17. Washburn
18. Harding
19. Wayne State
20. Fort Lewis
21. Indianapolis
22. North Alabama
23. Kentucky Wesleyan
24. Winston-Salem State
25. Dominican

Others receiving votes:  Rollin, Fairmont State, Barton, Saint Leo, Cal State-San Bernardino, Dixie State, Grand Valley State, Newman, St. Cloud State, Gannon, Midwestern State, Central Missouri, Augustana, Drury, Lenoir-Rhyne.


Next poll is February 12.