EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team concluded the 2014 calendar on a winning note, defeating Salem International University, 97-71, Tuesday night at the Physical Activities Center. USI goes to 7-1 overall, while Salem International sees its record go to 1-8.
The Screaming Eagles used an 18-8 run after the opening tip to get command of the contest early. USI would build a pair of 11-point leads, 21-10 and 24-13, before back-to-back three-point bombs by senior guard
Gavin Schumann (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore guard
Bobo Drummond (Peoria, Illinois) put the game securely in control of the Eagles, 30-17, with 9:53 left until halftime.
USI would go on to extend the opening half lead to 15 points by the intermission, 47-32, with an 11-2 run to end the first 20 minutes. The Eagles hit four-of-five from the field in the final 3:19 of the half to build the 15 point advantage.
In the second half, USI quickly pushed the margin to 20 points, 54-34, on a dunk by Schumann with 18:14 remaining in the contest. The Eagles, who were a blistering 18-of-28 from the field in the second half, would go on to lead by as many as 30 points three times before settling for the 97-71 victory.
As a team, USI outrebounded Salem International, 40-30, and had its best night shooting from the field, hitting 56.7 percent (34-60). The Eagles also were on target from long-range, dropping in 47.4 percent (9-19) of their three-point field goals.
Individually, Schumann led three players in double-figures with a game-high 30 points. He reached the 30-point plateau for the second time this season by converting 11-of-13 from the field, four-of-five from beyond the arc, and four-of-six from the charity stripe.
Junior forward
George Edwards (Chicago, Illinois) followed with 17 points, while junior guard
Travis Britt (Rantoul, Illinois) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. USI, in a balanced attack, had 12 of 13 players score in the victory.
The Eagles are idle for the next 16 days as they enter the NCAA Division II Holiday Break. USI resumes the 2014-15 schedule and starts its Great Lakes Valley Conference title defense January 2 at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts William Jewell College.
The first weekend of GLVC action and the close of the three-game homestand for the Eagles is January 4 at 3:15 p.m. when they host Rockhurst University. Following the three-game homestand, USI goes on the road for four-straight GLVC contests, its longest road trip of the year.
The four-game road swing in January includes trips to 12
th-ranked Drury University (January 8) and the ninth-ranked University of Indianapolis (January 17).
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