EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball will begin Thanksgiving week with a visit to Valparaiso University Wednesday and finish the holiday week by hosting Kentucky State University Saturday. Game time Wednesday at Valpo is 2 p.m., while tipoff versus Kentucky State is set for 3 p.m.
All of the Eagles' action this week is being streamed on ESPN+ and aired live on
ESPN 97.7FM and
The Spin 95.7FM (Saturday only).
A special ticket package, Family Feast Four Pack, will be available to fans for the Kentucky State contest. The ticket package includes four game tickets, four sodas, and four popcorns for $40. Additional tickets are $10.
The USI-KSU showdown also is the final day of the "Stuff the Cruiser" initiative to collect non-perishable items for Archie's Food Closet. The Public Safety cruiser will be parked in front of Liberty Arena. Those wishing to donate can give items directly to the Public Safety employee or student worker stationed at the cruiser.
Donations can also be dropped off at the Public Safety Office, located on the first floor of the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center.
USI will play either the University of Illinois Chicago or High Point University Saturday in the championship or consolation game. Tipoff for the consolation game is 4 p.m. (CT), and for the championship, it is 6 p.m. (CT).
The Screaming Eagles (1-5) hope to get on track when they visit Valp (4-1) on Wednesday. USI was blanked in the Boardwalk Battle, falling to the University of the Incarnate Word, 87-81, and the University of Illinois Chicago, 84-73, despite late rallies in both games.
USI senior guard
Ismail Habib led the Eagles in the Boardwalk Battle with 17.0 points per contest. He was followed by senior guard
Cardell Bailey and senior forward
Ola Ajiboye with 15.0 points and 14.0 points per game, respectively.
For the season, Habib leads four Eagles in double-digits with 18.3 points per outing. Senior guard
Trey Thomas and Cardell follow with 11.8 points and 11.6 points per contest, respectively, while junior guard
Kaden Brown rounds out the double-digit scorers with an 11.0 point average.
Valpo has started the season 4-1 and has won its last three games after splitting the opening week of the season. The Beacons are coming off a 90-75 victory over Cleveland State University November 19 on the road.
Wednesday's matchup will be the first meeting between the two programs in men's basketball.
Kentucky State is 1-3 overall after splitting a pair of games last week at home. The Thorobreds, who play Fort Valley State University at home Tuesday evening, defeated Allen University, 90-72, and lost to Benedict University, 65-55.
USI led the all-time series with Kentucky State, 20-3, during its Division II years and member of the GLVC. The last meeting was in a non-conference game in 2015-16 when the Eagles won, 95-68.
