EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball returns to the road this week for a trio of important Great Lakes Valley Conference games, beginning with 25^th-ranked (D2SIDA) Truman State University Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Kirksville, Missouri. The road trip also includes a visit to Quincy University Saturday at 3 p.m. and Lindenwood University Monday at 7:30 p.m. for a rescheduled contest.
 
Game coverage information for USI Men's Basketball, including live stats, video, and audio broadcasts, is available on GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.
 
The next USI games at Screaming Eagles Arena will be in February when USI hosts Rockhurst University February 3 and William Jewell College February 5 for Homecoming Week. Homecoming Week also includes the induction of the 2022 USI Athletic Hall of Fame.  
 
USI Men's Basketball vs. Truman, Quincy, Lindenwood Quick Notes:
 
USI starts homestand with two wins. USI finished the three-game road swing last week with a pair of wins, defeating the University of Illinois Springfield, 66-39, and Lewis University, 67-57. Junior guard Jelani Simmons led the way in the win with Illinois Springfield with 20 points, while junior forward Jacob Polakovich paced the Eagles versus Lewis with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
 
Doing the job on defense. The Eagles are holding the opposition under 70 points per game for the season for the first time since 2012-13 (65.2). USI also is averaging 28.6 defensive rebounds per game this season.
 
Polakovich named GLVC Player of the Week. Junior forward Jacob Polakovich was named the GLVC Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in USI 2-1 week at home. He averaged 17.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 66.7 percent from the field (16-24)
 
Polakovich doubling up. Junior forward Jacob Polakovich has recorded seven double-doubles in the last nine games. The junior forward is averaging 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds over the last nine contests. Polakovich, the GLVC leader in rebounding, also has defended the USI glass with 8.4 defensive boards per contest over the nine-game hot streak.  
 
Three in double-digits in scoring. Junior forward Jacob Polakovich leads the team with 13.0 points per game and a team-best 10.5 rebounds per contest, while junior guard Jelani Simmons is posting 4.3 points per game. Sophomore guard Tyler Henry rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.9 points per game.
 
USI vs. Truman State. USI has a 7-4 all-time series lead over Truman State University, despite dropping the last two match-ups. The Eagles lost both meetings last year, falling on the road, 76-69, and at home, 75-72. The two loses last season broke a three-game winning streak by the Eagles.
 
Truman State in 2021-22. Truman, which is sitting on top of the GLVC Central Division and ranked 25th (D2SIDA), watched its record go to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in the GLVC after falling, 78-68, at Lindenwood University today. The Bulldogs have won eight of their last 10 games coming into Thursday's match-up.
 
USI vs. Quincy. The Eagles have a dominating 35-10 lead in the all-time series with Quincy, 33-8 in the GLVC. The Eagles also have won six-straight over the Hawks, including a 83-77 win at Quincy and 86-71 win at home.
 
Quincy in 2021-22. Quincy, which is at the bottom of the GLVC Central, went to 9-11 overall and 2-8 in the league following an 87-66 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis this afternoon. The Hawks, who are slated to host the University of Indianapolis Thursday before hosting the Eagles, have lost their last five games and seven of their last nine since ushering in 2022.
 
Lindenwood vs. USI. USI has a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series, sweeping the series since Lindenwood joined the GLVC in 2019-20. The Eagles won last year's meeting at Screaming Eagles Arena, 101-77, and in 2019-20 in St. Charles, Missouri, 83-74.
 
Lindenwood in 2021-22. The Lions are 8-9 overall and 4-5 in the GLVC during the 2021-22 season. Lindenwood, which visits Southwest Baptist University Thursday and Rockhurst University Saturday before hosting the Eagles Monday, has won its last two, including a win over nationally ranked Truman State last Saturday, 78-68.