EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana senior guard Ismail Habib was named the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week in a vote of the league's communication directors. The award is the first of the year for Habib and USI Men's Basketball.
 
Habib earns the award after averaging 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in the loss at the University of South Dakota and the win at Liberty Arena versus Loras University. He shot 47.8 percent from the field (11-23), .438 from beyond the three-point arc (7-16), and 78.6 percent from the free throw line (11-14).
 
The senior guard started the week by leading the Screaming Eagles with a 19-point performance at South Dakota before finishing the last seven days with 21 points in the victory over Loras University. Habibi scored 16 of his 21 points versus Loras in the first half of the win.
 
For the season, Habib is recording 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He is shooting 39.7 percent from the field (23-58) and 79.2 percent from the line (19-24).
 
The Eagles and Habib continue non-conference play on the road this week when they travel to Daytona Beach, Florida, to play in the Boardwalk Battle. The tournament includes USI, the University of the Incarnate Word, High Point University, and the University of Illinois Chicago.