INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball couldn't get the offense running early in the season opener and lost at Butler University, 88-58, Wednesday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles start the year 0-1, while Butler begins 2025-26, 1-0.
 
USI started slowly on both ends of the court as Butler exploded on a 17-0 run to start the game. The Eagles got the offense out of neutral and tried to claw their way back into the game with a 20-10 surge to pull to within seven, 27-20, with 6:48 left in the first half. USI senior guards Trey Thomas and Cardell Bailey led the surge for USI with seven points and six points, respectively.
 
The Bulldogs, however, regained their footing and outscored the Eagles, 15-6, in the final minutes of the opening half to take a 52-26 lead into the locker room.
 
 The Eagles took the initiative to start the second half, using an 11-4 run, to cut the first half deficit to 56-37. Junior guard Kaden Brown led the run with six of the 11 points opening the final 20 minutes.
 
Butler stopped the USI surge for the final time by going on a 15-7 run to re-extend the margin to 27 points, 71-44. The Bulldogs would go on to lead by as many as 32 points before the horn sounded on the 88-58 final.
 
For USI individually, Brown led four Eagles in double-digits with 13 points. He was four-of-nine from the field, including three buckets from downtown, and two-of-four from the charity stripe.
 
Thomas and Bailey followed with 11 points each, while senior guard Ismail Habib rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.  
 
Next Up For USI:
USI opens up the 2025-26 home schedule Friday when it hosts Virginia Military Institute for a 7:30 p.m. contest at Liberty Arena. The game will mark the first-ever meeting between USI and VMI in any sport.
 
The VMI Keydets started their season with a 122-58 win over Johnson & Wales University at home in Lexington, Virginia, Monday night.
 
The USI-VMI matchup is a part of a Screaming Eagles Men's and Women's Basketball doubleheader. USI Women's Basketball tips off the doubleheader at 5 p.m.
 
To celebrate the beginning of the 2025-26 season, a First Friday Tailgate for the USI community and Screaming Eagles fans will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday in Parking Lot P (behind the Screaming Eagles Complex). After the tailgate, USI Women's and Men's Basketball will tip off against Murray State and Virginia Military Institute, respectively.
 
The tailgate will feature food, music by DJ Brash, free giveaways, and activities including inflatables, putt-putt, games, and more. There will also be a beer garden for fans 21 years and older (ID required to enter; cash and card accepted).