EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball could not keep up with the University of Tennessee at Martin and lost a 73-56 decision Saturday evening at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 3-13 overall and 0-6 in the OVC, while the Skyhawks are 13-4, 5-1 OVC.
 
USI and UTM battled back and forth during the first half with the Screaming Eagles boasting a six-point lead, 14-8, at the 14:33 mark. The Skyhawks would rally to get the lead by the end of the first 20 minutes, 35-33.
 
The Screaming Eagles and the Skyhawks traded buckets and leads through the first seven minutes of the final half. UTM would take control with 11:43 remaining when it built a five-point advantage, 49-44, and would go on to lead by 17 at the end of the game, 73-56.
 
USI was led by junior guard Amaree Brown, who had a team-high 17 points. Brown, who is averaging 16.0 points per game in his first two outings at USI, was six-of-11 from the field, including a three-pointer, and four-of-five from the stripe.
 
Senior guard Ismail Habib rounded out the double-digit scorers for USI with 14 points in the loss.
 
Next Up For USI:
USI is on the road next week with a trip to Tennessee to play Tennessee Tech Thursday and Tennessee State Saturday. The USI-TTU tip-off time is slated for 7:30 p.m., while the USI-TSU matchup is 3:30 p.m.
 
TTU defeated Western Illinois, 59-54, to raise its record to 7-10 overall and 2-4 in the OVC. The Golden Eagles snapped their four-game losing streak with the win. The Golden Eagles hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series with USI after taking both meetings last year.
 
TSU, who hosts Morehead State Thursday before hosting USI, lost to Eastern Illinois, 74-70, Saturday to go to 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the OVC. USI leads the all-time series with TSU, 6-5, after splitting last year. The Screaming Eagles took the opening game, 77-75, at Liberty Arena, but lost on the road in Nashville, 74-69.