By: Nathanial Barbee, USI Athletic Communications
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball begins the new season on Monday night against Belmont University for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Game Information
USI (0-0) at Belmont (0-0)
Date/Time: November 2, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Curb Event Center | Nashville, Tenn.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 97.7 FM WREF
Series History: Series is tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: USI 83, Belmont 74 on January 17, 1984 (Nashville, Tenn.)
The Screaming Eagles are looking to bounce back from a tough 2025-26 season, earning just seven victories. USI will have an almost entirely new roster, returning just three players from a year ago. However, the program picked up 11 players from the transfer portal this offseason, with eight coming from NCAA Division I institutions.
A big piece returning for USI is senior
Kaden Brown, who was averaging 11 points per game before suffering a season-ending injury in January. Now fully recovered, Brown will make his probable comeback on Monday. The hometown kid
Josiah Dunham enters his third season with USI after leading the team with a stellar 35.8 percent mark from beyond the arc in 2025-26. The Ohio Valley Conference acknowledged Brown and junior
Ari Gooch as Preseason Players to Watch in later October.
Head Coach
Stan Gouard enters his seventh season at the helm and 19th season as a head coach. Gouard has accumulated 299 victories in 18 years and searches for career win number 300.
Belmont, who is led by first-year head coach and Belmont alum Evan Bradds, is ranked 22nd by the College Insider Mid-Major Preseason Poll. Last season, the Bruins propelled to a 26-6 overall record and a 16-4 league split. Belmont faced No. 2 Duke University in an exhibition matchup on October 8, falling to the Blue Devils, 102-62.
For more information, visit our website at USIScreamingEagles.com or follow USI on social media at USIAthletics.
