EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball dropped its fourth straight road Ohio Valley Conference game at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Thursday night at First Community Arena, 82-76. USI led by two with over a minute to play before committing two crucial turnovers, leading to the Cougars scoring eight straight points and icing the game at the free throw line. The Screaming Eagles fall to 8-11 overall and 3-6 in OVC action, while the Cougars go to 13-7, 6-3 OVC.
USI found success from all three levels to start the game as junior Damoni Harrison converted two tough shots from mid-range and beyond the arc, giving the Eagles an early 11-9 lead. Graduate forward Jack Mielke knocked down a three as all five USI starters cracked the scoring sheet in the first seven minutes, leading 20-13. Harrison notched double-digit points as the Eagles led by six halfway through the first half, shooting 75% from the field.
Freshman Josiah Dunham knocked down his ninth three pointer of the season extending the Eagles lead to eight before the Cougars countered in transition, cutting their deficit to three. Junior Sam Kodi got downhill on the Cougars with two buckets and the foul, totaling ten first half points. However, late turnovers helped the Cougars mount a nine-point run.
USI used a balanced scoring approach as eight different Eagles totaled buckets leading at halftime, 43-41. The 43 points marked the Eagles highest first half total against a Division I opponent this season.
The Cougars guards swarmed the Eagles to start the half, before Harrison nailed a three from NBA range to regain a one-point lead. Both squads traded buckets as every statistical category was relatively even. Mielke added a baseline three as the Eagles trailed by one with five minutes to play.
The SIUE guards were impressive in the second half, continuously driving deep into the paint and converting at the line as the Eagles trailed 72-71 at the final media timeout. With 1:27 to play, Harrison found junior Jayland Randall for the bucket and the foul earning a 76-74 lead. However, two crucial Eagle turnovers down the stretch led to the Cougars snatching the lead back and icing the game with free throws.
Four different Eagles finished with double figures in junior Braxton Jones (10), sophomore Stephen Olowoniyi (11), Randall (10), Kodi (12), and Harrison (15).
Next Up For USI:
The Eagles will reach the midway point of their three-game road trip on Saturday when they visit Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Game time is 3:30 p.m.
The Panthers of EIU are 5-14 overall and 1-7 in the OVC following a loss to Morehead State University this evening on ESPNU. EIU has lost six straight and eight of the last ten.
The series between USI and EIU is tied 3-3 after the Panthers took the only meeting last season, 81-71, at Liberty Arena. EIU leads the series in OVC contests, 2-1.
The final game of the three-game road swing is January 28 when USI travels to Morehead, Kentucky, to face off with Morehead State. Start time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CST).
The next home game for USI at Liberty Arena is February 1 when it starts a three-game homestand by hosting Tennessee Tech University. Tickets for the homestand and all USI home dates are on sale now at USIScreamingEagles.com.
