Eagles host defending national champs Saturday
 
COMPLETE USI GAME NOTES
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The eighth-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team opens a four-game homestand this week, beginning with Missouri University of Science & Technology Thursday and the defending NCAA Division II national champion and third-ranked Drury University Saturday. Game time Thursday versus Missouri S&T (5-6, 0-3 GLVC) is 7:30 p.m., while tip-off Saturday against Drury (12-0, 3-0 GLVC) is 3:15 p.m.
 
Game coverage for the second 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 (10-0) were perfect on the road to open the 2014 and the GLVC schedule, defeating Rockhurst University, 86-68, and William Jewell College, 88-66. USI senior forward Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois), the Division II Bulletin December Player of the Month, continued his dominance with 16 points and 14 rebounds in the victories.
 
USI also received outstanding contributions from the bench. Senior forwards Manny Ogunfolu (Rockville, Maryland) and Orlando Rutledge (Louisville, Kentucky) dropped in 13.0 points and 11.0 points per game, respectively, in the two contests.
 
The victories allowed the Eagles to keep pace nationally and remain eighth for the second straight week in the NABC/Division II Top 25 poll. Bellarmine and Drury University joined USI in the top 10 poll, ranking second and third, respectively, for the third-straight week. The GLVC also was represented by Lewis University (17^th) and the University of Indianapolis (19^th).
 
USI Men's Basketball notes versus Missouri S&T and #3 Drury:

Nelson named Division II Bulletin Player of the Month. USI senior forward Aaron Nelson was named the Division II Bulletin Player of the Month for December. Nelson averaged 21.3 points and 14.5 rebounds in the four USI victories last month.

Eagles remains 8^th after two victories to open 2014. USI remained eighth in the seventh NABC/Division II poll of 2013-14. The Screaming Eagles have been ranked 149 of the last 181 Division II ranking weeks since 2000, including 79 weeks in the top 10 and four weeks at number one.

Eagles leading the nation in rebounding margin; Nelson second. The Eagles lead the nation in rebound margin with a 46.1-27.4 advantage over its opponents. Senior forward Aaron Nelson ranks second in the NCAA Division II and leads the GLVC with 13.5 rebounds per contest.

Eagles ranked nationally in shooting. USI is ranked sixth nationally in field goal percentage, 53.6 percent (334-623).

Eagles are 10-0. USI is 10-0 for the third time in the last five years and the seventh 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.

Keeping the lead. USI has trailed only twice in the last five games and held the lead for nearly 230 of 240 minutes in the last six games. The total amount of time the Eagles have been behind over the last six games is a low 9 minutes, 17 seconds (Longest time in the deficit for USI was seven minutes versus Kentucky State University).

Nelson has opponents seeing double. Senior forward Aaron Nelson has a GLVC-best and USI-record setting 10-straight double-doubles this season. The 10 double-doubles also tied for third in the NCAA Division II. Chris Bowles posted a USI-record 18 double-doubles in 1991-92.

Missouri S&T in 2013-14. The Miners of Missouri University of Science & Technology come to the PAC with a 5-6 overall record and a 0-3 start to the GLVC. Missouri S&T was swept at home last weekend by the University of Indianapolis and Saint Joseph's College, but is 3-3 in its last six games.

The last time USI played Missouri S&T. The last time USI hosted Missouri S&T, the Minors overcame an 18-point deficit and upset the Eagles, 62-55. Isaac McClure and Taylor Wischmeier led USI with 17 points and 16 points, respectively.

#3 Drury in 2013-14. The defending NCAA II national champion and third-ranked Panthers of Drury University are a perfect 11-0 and 3-0 in the GLVC. Drury swept UIndy and Saint Joseph's last weekend to start action in 2014.

The last time USI played Drury. The last time USI played Drury, the Eagles lost a heartbreaker, 71-65, in the GLVC Tournament finale last March. Lawrence Thomas and Keith DeWitt led USI with 14 points each. USI won the last regular season meeting between the two programs at the PAC in 2011-12, 76-64. Brando Hogg and Ben Jones led the Eagles with 17 points and 11 points, respectively.