EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball opens the 2021-22 regular season and home schedule Thursday when it hosts Oakland City University for a 7 p.m. contest at Screaming Eagles Arena. Single game tickets are on sale now through the  USI Ticket office by visiting GoUSIEagles.com or by calling 812-465-7165.
 
Game coverage information for the game, including live stats and audio broadcasts, is available on GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on 95.7FM The Spin.
 
Following the season opener at home, USI will be on the road next week with visits to Cedarville University November 22 in Cedarville, Ohio and to Kentucky Wesleyan College November 24 at the Sports Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.

The USI Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be hosting a food drive during the game to benefit the Tri-State Food Bank. Tri-State Food Bank is always in need of a variety of nonperishable goods, including canned fruits and vegetables, beans, canned meats, dry pasta and grains. They encourage donations of nutritious core food staples and protein food items over food items such as cookies, candy, and junk food. Tri-State Food Bank is dedicated to providing healthy food for our hungry friends. This is a list of their most needed items; peanut butter, soup, canned fruit, beans, rice, tuna, cereal, fruit juice, pasta, and pasta sauce. Tri-State Food Bank also prefers plastic containers and pop top cans and cannot accept home canned or baked products.
 
USI Men's Basketball vs. Oakland City Quick Notes:
 
USI vs. Oakland City.  The Eagles hold a 37-10 overall series lead over the Mighty Oaks of Oakland City University, dating back to December of 1970. USI won the last match-up, 121-58 at Screaming Eagles Arena in 2019 and has won the last 14 straight games.
 
Oakland City in 2021-22. The Mighty Oaks enter this week's action with a 0-3 record after falling to Grace College in the season opener, 74-64, and going 0-2 last weekend at the Chick-Fil-A Classic with losses to Blue Mountain College, 69-58, and Bethel University (TN), 78-62. Oakland City will host Saint Mary's of the Woods Tuesday evening before visiting the Eagles.
 
Eagles show promise vs. Auburn. USI showed a lot of promise for 2021-22 in the 68-54 loss to Auburn University on November 5. The Eagles had an eight-point lead with nine minutes remaining before the Tigers made a 22-0 run at the end of the game. USI was led by freshman guard Isaiah Swope, who had 15 points, and junior guard Jelani Simmons, who posted 10 points. Junior forward Jacob Polakovich and freshman guard/forward Elijah Jones had 10 rebounds each.
 
USI picked to win GLVC East. USI is picked to win the GLVC East Division for the second-straight season in 2021-22.
 
Eagles receive votes for preseason top 25. USI receive votes for the NABC Preseason Top 25 poll.
 
Back to regular season action. USI resumes a normal schedule in 2021-22 with a full 26 games on tap. The Eagles were 12-5 overall last season, playing 15 regular season games and two NCAA II Midwest Regional contests. USI, which won eight of the last 10 games last year, lost seven regular season games and the GLVC Tournament to COVID in 2020-21.
 
USI won the GLVC East in 2020-21. Despite missing last month, the Eagles won the GLVC East Division by 3.5 games and were second overall in the GLVC's Point Rating System. 
 
Returning Eagle leaders in 2021-22. Junior guard/forward Jelani Simmons, a member of the All-NCAA II Midwest Regional team, leads USI's returners with 13.5 points per game, while All-GLVC senior guard Mateo Rivera dropped in 12.9 points per outing. Rivera is the leading returning rebounder with 6.4 per game.
 
USI posts winning record for 29-straight years. USI has posted 29-straight winning seasons, dating back to 1992-93 (the first season for Bruce Pearl at USI).