COMPLETE USI GAME NOTES
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 16^th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team hopes to get back on track when it hosts the University of Illinois Springfield (6-11, 2-7 GLVC) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and McKendree University (8-8, 2-6 GLVC) Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Former USI All-American baseball player and Minnesota Twins outfielder Darin Mastroianni will be signing autographs in the family area of the Varsity Club Room between games Saturday and will be recognized during the men's basketball game with McKendree.
 
Game coverage for the third 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 Eagles (14-3, 6-3 GLVC) were 1-2 on the road last week, defeating second-ranked Bellarmine University in overtime, 68-66, but falling to 19^th-ranked Lewis University, 73-63, and GLVC East-leading University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 82-71. Senior forward Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) led the way for the Eagles with 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per contest, while senior guard Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois) followed with 12.7 points and 3.7 assists per game.
 
For the season, Nelson is posting All-American type numbers with a team-best 20.5 points and an NCAA Division II leading 13.5 rebounds per outing.
 
After the 1-2 week, the Eagles fell seven spots to 16^th in the NABC/Division II Top 25 poll. USI had been in the top-10 nationally for the last four weeks. The Eagles were joined in the top 25 by Drury University (fifth), the University of Indianapolis (10^th), Lewis University (17^th), and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (18^th).
 
USI Men's Basketball notes versus Illinois Springfield and McKendree:

Eagles falls to 16^th in latest poll. The University of Southern Indiana fell to 16^th in the 10^th NABC/Division II poll of 2013-14. This is the first time in four weeks that USI is not in the top 10. The Screaming Eagles have been ranked 161 of the last 184 Division II ranking weeks since 2000, including 81 weeks in the top 10 and four weeks at number one.

Eagles eager to come home after tough road swing . USI is eager to return to the Physical Activities Center after its longest road trip of the year, going 1-2. The Eagles return to the PAC where they have an 8-1 mark, compared to 6-2 away from home.

USI's leaders on the road trip. Senior forward Aaron Nelson led the Eagles on the road last week with 20.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Nelson, who tied a career-best for the third time with 31 points at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, was followed by senior guard Lawrence Thomas, who had 12.7 points and 3.7 assists per contest.

Turnovers hurt the Eagles. In the 73-63 loss at Lewis University and the 82-71 loss at UW-Parkside, the Eagles committed a combined 27 turnovers and were outscored 31-7 in points off turnovers.

Thomas becoming a force. Senior guard Lawrence Thomas has been a force for the Eagles over the last four games. Thomas is averaging 13.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals during the last four games. He also is shooting 50 percent from the field (16-32), 53.8 percent from long range (7-13), and 93.8 percent from the charity stripe (15-16).

Missing Manny. The Eagles have missed senior forward Manny Ogunfolu the last three games, especially over the weekend at Lewis and UW-Parkside. Ogunfolu's season average of 9.9 points per game would have nearly made up the difference in the 10-point loss to Lewis and 11-point defeat at UW-Parkside. The senior forward also is averaging 10.8 points per contest away from the PAC. Ogunfolu should return to the floor this week.

USI versus ranked teams. The loss to Lewis dropped USI to 2-2 against ranked teams in 2013-14, including two games versus teams in the top 10. USI is 59-48 (.551) against ranked squads since 1992-93.

Illinois Springfield in 2013-14. The Prairie Stars of Illinois Springfield are coming off a win over Saint Joseph's College, 76-75, that broke a four-game losing streak. Illinois Springfield rose to 6-11 overall and 2-7 in the GLVC with the win over the Pumas from Saint Joseph's.

USI versus Illinois Springfield. The Eagles lost the only meeting with the Prairie Stars a year ago, losing in Springfield, Illinois, 73-71. USI holds a 5-2 all-time series advantage with the Stars and a 4-1 advantage at the PAC.

McKendree in 2013-14: The Bearcats of McKendree, who travel to play Bellarmine University on Thursday, are 8-8 overall and 2-6 in the GLVC. McKendree has won two of its last three GLVC contests.

USI vs. McKendree. USI lead the all-time series with McKendree, 8-2, including a season sweep last year. The Eagles also are 3-0 against the Bearcats since 2000.