EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball celebrates 2024 Homecoming Week with a set of Ohio Valley Conference games at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Screaming Eagles welcome Eastern Illinois University to the arena Thursday, while Southern Illinois University Edwardsville visits on Saturday for the Homecoming game.
 
Thursday and Saturday's game times are set for 7:30 p.m. Fans can track your Eagles all season by visiting the schedule on USIScreamingEagles.com for links to follow all of the action on the ESPN+, ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com), and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com/).
 
The USI-EIU game is the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game for the Eagles. USI is partnering with the National Association of Basketball Coaches to help promote the American Cancer Society's fight to end cancer as we know it.
 
USI (6-17, 3-7 OVC) comes off the road after splitting a pair of games in Tennessee last week. The Eagles got back on track and snapped a five-game skid with a 74-71 win over Tennessee Tech University before stumbling on the back end of the trip at Tennessee State University, 79-74. USI junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) led the Eagles by averaging 21.0 points per game.
 
Hernandez, who leads USI with 17.1 points per game this season, has been on fire through the last 10 games. He has reached double-digits in scoring the last 10 games, averaging 23.0 points per outing, and has scored 20-or-more points in six of the 10 contests.
 
On the stat sheet, junior guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) follows Hernandez with 12.6 points and a team-best 8.9 rebounds per outing, while posting a team-high nine double-doubles.
 
USI has eight games remaining in the 2023-24 regular season, seven in February and one in March. The Eagles, currently eighth in the OVC, are at home for four of the eight remaining games as they fight for a spot in the league's post-season tournament at the Ford Center March 6-9.
 
EIU (10-13, 4-6 OVC) has lost three-straight games after losing a pair last week at home. The Panthers lost 76-59 to the University of Tennessee at Martin February 1 and 71-47 to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock February 3.
 
USI leads the all-time series, 3-2, but is tied, 1-1, since joining the OVC last year. EIU took the opening game between the pair last season, 91-80, in Charleston, but USI bounced back to win at Screaming Eagles Arena, 78-74.
 
SIUE (13-10, 6-4 OVC) concluded last week's action with a 90-79 loss to the University of Tennessee at Martin at home. The Cougars, who visit Morehead State University Thursday before coming to Evansville, have won five of their last seven games, following their win over the Eagles in January.
 
The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Cougars, 45-23, but SIUE leads USI over the last two seasons, 3-1. The Cougars won January's tough battle with USI, 67-64, in Edwardsville despite the Eagles' Smith posting a double-double, 20 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Tickets for the road trip are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the USI Ticket Office on-line. For more information, call the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1189.