EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team saw its second half rally stall as it fell to the 19
th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 73-50, Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI goes to 11-5 overall and 4-4 GLVC, while UW-Parkside sees its record go to 16-1, 8-0 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles fell behind early after the tip-off as the Rangers built a quick seven point lead, 16-9, at the 13:17 mark. USI would close the gap to one point, 16-15, before UW-Parkside rallied in the final 10 minutes of the half to take a 32-22 lead into the intermission.
In the second half, USI began to chip away at the 10-point deficit and tried to fly back into the game. The Eagles closed to within four points, 40-36, with 13:08 to play, but that would be as close as they would get as the Rangers went on a 24-11 run through the next nine minutes to take command, 64-47. UW-Parkside shot 66.7 percent from the field (10-15) during the run, while USI's offense stalled and was only able to hit 45.5 percent (5-11) from the outside.
UW-Parkside would go on to lead by as many as 24 points, 73-49, in the final five minutes before closing out the 73-50 win. The Rangers have won the last four regular season meetings with the Eagles.
USI senior guard
Gavin Schumann (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Eagles in scoring for the 10
th time this season, posting a team-high 15 points. Junior forward
George Edwards (Chicago, Illinois) followed Schumann in the scoring column with 11 points, while grabbing a team-high nine boards.
The Eagles conclude their three-game homestand Saturday when they host Lewis University for a 3:15 p.m. tip-off. The Flyers saw their record go to 12-5 overall and 4-4 in the GLVC after an overtime road loss at seventh-ranked Bellarmine University, 82-79.
USI leads the all-time series with Lewis, 43-23, and is 9-3 against the Flyers since 2000 in the PAC. The Eagles split the two meetings with the Flyers last season, losing the regular season contest in Romeoville, Illinois, 73-63, and winning the GLVC Tournament game, 92-74, at the Ford Center.
