USI rises to 10th in national poll

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 10th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team travels to Louisville, Kentucky, to complete the 2016-17 regular season with a visit to fourth-ranked Bellarmine University Thursday at 7 p.m. (CST). The regular season finale for both teams will be aired live on the American Sports Network, TUFF TV affiliates, and NCAA.com.

In addition, live statistics and audio broadcasts are available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard over the airwaves on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and 95.7FM The Spin.
 
The Screaming Eagles (25-2, 15-2 GLVC) enter Thursday night's match up with a chance to capture a share of the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division crown. The Knights (24-3, 16-1 GLVC) hold a one-game lead over the Eagles, including the 78-70 win over USI at the Physical Activities Center in January.

USI Men's Basketball vs. Week 17 Quick Notes:

• USI in national rankings. The University of Southern Indiana jumped in the NCAA Division II rankings this week, rising four spots to 10th in the NABC Division II Top 25 and one spot to 10th in the D2SIDA Media Top 25. USI also is ranked 11th in the HeroSports.com and 11th in the NCAA Division II power rankings.
   
• Eagles win sixth-straight. USI cruised to its fifth and sixth-straight wins last week with a 90-57 victory over the University of Illinois Springfield and 81-67 win over McKendree University. Sophomore guard Alex Stein led the Eagles with 25.0 points per game, shooting 76.9 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from beyond the arc (6-8). Senior guard/forward Jeril Taylor followed with 18.0 points per contest and a team-high/career-best 12.5 rebounds per outing.
   
• USI will be third seed and have first round bye. USI wrapped up the third seed and a GLVC-Tournament first round bye with the wins last week.
   
• 25-Win Season. USI has 25 wins for the first time since 2013-14 and the 14th time in the history of the program.  
   
• USI on the road in 2016-17. USI is 7-1 on the road this year, averaging 91.2 points per road game.  Senior guard Jeril Taylor is averaging 21.4 points per game, while sophomore guard Alex Stein is posting 15.3 points per outing. Junior guard Marcellous Washington and senior guard Bobo Drummond round out the double-digit road scorers with 11.0 and 10.4 points per game.
   
• Stein heating up. After suffering through a three-for-26 slump from behind the three-point arc, sophomore guard Alex Stein is heating up. Stein is nine-of-his-last-13 from downtown over the last three games.
   
• USI vs. Bellarmine. USI leads the all-time series with Bellarmine University, 50-39, but trails 5-4 over the last nine games. USI also trails in the series, 20-12, at Knights Hall. The Knights took the first meeting of the year at the Physical Activities Center, 78-70. Senior guard Jeril Taylor led four Eagles in double-digits with 17 points.
   
• Last year at Knights Hall. USI lost its last visit to Knights Hall, 80-65, last year. Senior guard/forward Jeril Taylor was the Eagles top scorer with 27 points.