LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball was stopped by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 80-62, Saturday afternoon at Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Screaming Eagles fall to 7-20 overall and 4-10 in OVC play, while the Trojans are 16-11 overall, 10-4 OVC.
 
Despite the loss, USI remains eighth in the league and in the race to secure a spot in the OVC Tournament in March. The Eagles are tied for eighth at 4-10 with Tennessee Tech University, while Southeast Missouri State University is a game behind USI with four games to play in the 2023-24 season. USI, which currently owns the tiebreaker with TTU, and SEMO are scheduled to face off at Screaming Eagles Arena on the last day of the regular season.
 
The top eight teams at the end of OVC play advance to the league tournament March 6-9 at the Ford Center in Evansville. USI has three games on the road remaining before hosting a pair on the final weekend of conference play.  
 
USI fell behind quickly in the opening half as Little Rock scored the first seven points of the game and had an early 12-2 lead. The Eagles rallied to cut the deficit to single-digits three times by the midway point of the first half, but the Trojans took a 38-26 lead into the intermission. Sophomore guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) kept the Eagles in the contest through the first 20 minutes, scoring 13 of the team's 26 points.
 
The Eagles kept pace with the Trojans in the second half but could not gain ground. USI was never able to cut the deficit to single-digits, slipping to within 10 points, 38-28, with the opening bucket of the final 20 minutes. Little Rock led USI in the second half by as many as 19 points before closing out the 80-62 decision.
 
Smith was the only Eagle to reach double-digits in scoring, adding 10 second half points for a game-high 25 in the loss. The 25-points were two short of a career best by Smith. 
 
Next Up For USI:
USI starts the second half of the four-game road swing Tuesday when it visits OVC front running Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Tipoff is set of 6:30 p.m.
 
The MSU Eagles are 20-7 overall and 11-3 in the OVC after losing 88-82 at the University of Tennessee at Martin this afternoon. MSU, despite a second-straight loss, has won seven of its last nine and 12 of the last 15 games.
 
The MSU Eagles got the better of the USI Screaming Eagles in January, winning 81-70 at Screaming Eagles Arena, and holds a 3-0 all-time series lead. Junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) led USI with 30 points in the January loss.
 
The road swing comes to a conclusion February 24 when USI visits Western Illinois University for a 3:30 p.m. game. The Leathernecks, who raised their record to 17-10 overall and 11-4 in the OVC after defeating Tennessee State University today, 68-61, are hosting MSU Thursday before welcoming the Screaming Eagles. WIU has won three of its last five games after Saturday.

WIU took the first meeting of the season with USI, 73-68, at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI had three players in double-digits, led by Hernandez with 26 points. The Leathernecks lead the series with USI, 4-1.
 
Following today and next week's action, USI concludes the 2023-24 regular season with a pair of home games, hosting Lindenwood University February 29 and Southeast Missouri State University March 2.
 
Fans can find all the ways to follow USI Basketball action by visiting USIScreamingEagles.com.