EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball junior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) and freshman guard Isaiah Stafford (Bolingbrook, Illinois) combined for 32 points to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 90-64 victory over Rockhurst University Friday evening at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI goes to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the GLVC, while Rockhurst is 10-12 overall, 5-7 in the league.
 
The Eagles were red hot from the opening tip, hitting four of five shots and captured an early 10-2 lead. Simmons and sophomore guard Tyler Henry (Brooklyn, New York) hit back-to-back three point bombs to get the Eagles off to a flying start.
 
USI increased the margin to 18 points, 25-7, before eight minutes were gone in game. During the run up to the 18-point lead, the Eagles held the Hawks scoreless for 7:13 as Rockhurst went 0-10 from the field and 0-7 from beyond.
 
The Eagles would post its largest lead of the half with under a minute to play when freshman guard/forward Elijah Jones (Chicago Heights, Illinois) hit a pair of free throws to put USI up 25 points, 43-18. The Hawks and the Eagles traded a pair of buckets before the intermission as USI matched the largest margin with a 45-20 halftime advantage.
 
In the second half, the Eagles would not miss a beat over the first 11 minutes as they extended the halftime margin to 35 points, 77-42. The Hawks, however, would stage a run to cut the lead to 20 points, 77-58, with a 16-0 surge before the Eagles settled for the 90-64 victory.
 
USI had four players reach double-digits, led by Simmons and Stafford with 16 points each. Simmons was seven-of-11 from the field, including two three-pointers, while Stafford was five-of-12 from the field with a three pointer and five-of-six from the line.
 
Freshman guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) followed with 15 points, while junior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) rounded out the double-digit players with 10 points.  
  
COMING UP FOR USI:
USI concludes Homecoming Week Saturday when it hosts William Jewell College for a 3:15 p.m. contest.
 
William Jewell is at the .500 mark with a 10-10 overall record, 6-6 in the GLVC. The Cardinals, who had their game at the University of Indianapolis canceled Friday due to the inclement weather, has lost their last two games and four of the last five.
 
The Eagles have a dominating 9-1 lead in the all-time series with William Jewell, winning the last four. USI took last year's match-ups, 81-51 at home and 78-71 in Liberty, Missouri. Forward Josh Price averaged 28.5 points per game in the two victories to lead the Eagles.