EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball opened 2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference action with a 77-62 loss to Little Rock Thursday night at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 3-8 overall and 0-1 in the OVC, while Little Rock is 3-9, 1-1 OVC.
 
USI got off to a slow start offensively, shooting only 27.3 percent from the field (3-11) and trailed by four, 13-9, after 8:30 was gone in the opening half. The Eagles slowly gained momentum with a 9-4 spurt to go in front with 9:42 on the clock on a three-pointer by senior guard Ismail Habib.
 
The USI lead would get extended to five points, 24-19, on a long-range bomb and a lay-in by senior guard Cardell Bailey at 8:57 and 7:54. Little Rock would battle back to knot the game at 31-31 with 3:23 left in the half by outscoring USI, 12-7, in the next four minutes.
 
The Eagles and the Trojans traded buckets in the final three minutes with USI taking a 36-34 lead into the break on Bailey's fourth three-pointer of the half. Bailey concluded the half with a team-best 16 points.
 
USI finished the first half shooting 46.4 percent from the field (13-28) and 50 percent from beyond the arc (7-14).
 
The second half began with the Eagles and Trojans trading leads until Little Rock quickly extended a lead to five points, 46-41, with 16:53 remaining. While USI pulled to within two, 48-46, a short time later, Little Rock exploded on a 17-4 run to lead by 15, 65-50, and take command of the contest.
 
USI closed the gap to nine points, 67-58, on an 8-2 run, but that would be as close as the Eagles would come the rest of the way in the 77-62 final.
 
Individually, Habib led the Eagles in the scoring column with 21 points. He was eight-of-17 from the field, four-of-eight from beyond the arc, and one-of-two from the stripe.
 
Bailey added two more points in the second half and finished with 18. He was seven-of-15 from the field and four-of-nine from beyond the arc
 
Next Up For USI:
The Screaming Eagles complete their homestand and the 2025 calendar by hosting Morehead State Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Morehead State is 4-7 overall and 1-0 in the OVC after defeating Little Rock on Tuesday, 78-64.
 
MSU leads the all-time series with USI, 5-1, after sweeping both games last year by a combined three points.
 
Following the homestand, USI will be on the road to open the 2026 calendar. The Screaming Eagles will visit SIU Edwardsville on New Year's Day and Lindenwood on January 3. Both games are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.