VALPARAISO, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball rained three-pointers in the first half and made a defensive stand in the second half to defeat Valparaiso University, 64-56, Wednesday afternoon in Valparaiso, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles go to 2-5 in the non-conference schedule, while Valpo is 4-2.
 
USI flew out of the gate in the opening half, raining three-point field goals to post a 36-30 lead at halftime. The Eagles were a blistering 53.3 percent from beyond the arc (8-15), led by senior guard Ismail Habib. Habib had a team-best 18 points in the first 20 minutes on six three-point field goals (six-of-nine for the half).
 
The Eagles had their largest lead of the half, 34-25, after a 12-2 run with 3:06 before halftime. Habib had nine of the 12 points during the sprint.
 
USI started its second-half stand with a strong defensive effort. The Eagles held Valpo without a point for the first six minutes of the second half and without a field goal for the first eight minutes (0-for-12).
 
The USI defense finished the contest with nine blocked shots, five by senior forward Ola Ajiboye and three by junior forward Tolu Samuels, and forced nine turnovers. The nine blocks are the most by a USI team since it blocked 10 shots by Oakland City University in 2021.
 
Samuels also led USI's effort on the glass by grabbing 15 rebounds, 11 coming on the defensive end of the court.
 
While the defense was holding, the Eagles continued to build their lead on the offensive side of the floor. USI would extend its lead to as many as 14 points twice (44-30 and 46-32).
 
Valpo, however, rallied to cut the USI advantage to as few as six points, 52-46, with 4:46 to play in the contest. The Eagles pushed the lead back to 12 points, 62-50, with 1:09 left on a pair of free throws by junior guard Kaden Brown. USI would hit eight of 13 free throws down the stretch, including a six-for-six by Brown, to close out the 64-58 win.
 
For the game, Habib finished the contest with a team-best 25 points on eight-of-18 from the field, six-of-12 from beyond the arc, and three-of-five from the line. The six three-pointers were the most by an Eagle this season.
 
Brown followed Habib in the scoring column with 15 points. He was three-of-10 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and seven-of-10 from the line.
 
Next Up For USI:
USI returns home after Thanksgiving to play former Great Lakes Valley Conference rival, Kentucky State University, Saturday at 3 p.m. Kentucky State is off to a 2-3 start to begin 2025-26 after a successful 2-1 homestand.
 
USI led the all-time series with Kentucky State, 20-3, during its Division II years and as a member of the GLVC. The last meeting was in a non-conference game in 2015-16 when the Eagles won, 95-68.
 
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.