TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball was grounded by Indiana State University, 98-54, Saturday afternoon at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles slide to 2-9 after today's action, while the Sycamores are 9-1 this season.
 
The first half was rough for the Eagles as the Sycamores bombed USI with 18 first half field goals, eight from long range, and led at halftime, 52-25. USI got scoring from five different players, led by junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) with eight points.
 
USI struggled to find any offense in the first five minutes of the second half, starting the final 20 minutes one-of-12 from the field. The Eagles would finish the half 10-of-34 (29.4 percent) and 21-of-58 for the game.
 
Indiana State would post a nearly identical half to the first, outscoring USI, 46-29, in the final 20 minutes.
 
Individually, Hernandez and sophomore guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) led the Eagles in scoring with 16 points and 12 points, respectively. Junior forward Jack Mielke (Downers Grove, Illinois) led USI on the boards with six.   
 
Next Up For USI:
USI will be idle next week before returning to action December 19 when it hosts the University of Saint Francis (Illinois) at Screaming Eagles Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Saint Francis is 2-4 overall and visiting Indiana University South Bend this afternoon. The Fighting Saints also are scheduled to play an exhibition game at Lewis University December 14 before coming to USI.
 
The Eagles conclude the non-conference portion of the 2023-24 schedule December 22 when they visit Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis, who currently are 6-2 overall, have Austin Peay State University (December 12), Wichita State University (December 16), and North Dakota State University (December 19) on the schedule before hosting the Eagles.  
 
Fans can find all of the ways to follow USI Basketball action on the road by visiting USIScreamingEagles.com.