SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team got back on track with a 67-54 victory over the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Illinois. USI goes to 13-6 overall and 6-5 GLVC, while Illinois Springfield sees its record go to 8-11, 2-9 GLVC.
 
The Screaming Eagles got off to their best start in seven games, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. USI took command early in the contest with an 11-0 run to lead 15-4 with 13:44 to play in the opening half.
 
The Eagles would post a second 11-point lead, 18-7, with 11:01 remaining before halftime when they were hit by a scoring drought five and a half minutes. The scoring drought allowed the Prairie Stars to climb back into the game and get to within one of the Eagles, 20-19.
 
USI would re-extend the advantage to six points, 28-22, by the halftime. Senior guard Gavin Schumann (Cincinnati, Ohio) reached double-digits in the scoring column for the 18^th time in 19 games by dropping in 12 first half points. Schumann would conclude Saturday's action second on the team with 16 points.
 
On the defensive end of the court, USI held Illinois Springfield 31 percent from the field for the first half (9-29) and 18.2 percent from beyond the arc (2-11).
 
In the second half, senior guard TeNale Roland (New Albany, Indiana) took his turn at leading the Eagles on the offensive end as USI extended its halftime margin. Roland scored 12 of his game-high 21 points in the final 20 minutes, dropping in two buckets, including a three-pointer, before converting seven of his eight trips to the charity stripe.
 
The Eagles extended the six-point halftime lead to double-digits, 42-32, with 13:20 remaining in the contest. USI would maintain the double-digit lead for 12 minutes before lengthening the lead to as many as 15 points, 67-52, with 36 seconds left. Illinois Springfield would get the final two points of the game before USI heard the buzzer on its 67-54 win.
 
USI, as a team, did the job on the glass by outrebounding Illinois Springfield, 43-26, and held the Prairie Stars to 35 percent from the field (21-60) and 20 percent from beyond the arc (5-25). Schumann had a career-high five steals for the Eagles, while senior forward Austin Davis (Freeport, Illinois) was one short of a career-high with three blocked shots.  
 
The Eagles return to the Physical Activities Center next week for a pair of games, including Homecoming. USI is slated to play Quincy University February 5 and Truman State University February 7 in the Homecoming game.