EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball was disappointed on Senior Day and lost to Tennessee Tech, 82-74, on Senior Day at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 5-21 overall and 2-14 in the OVC, while the Golden Eagles are 11-16, 6-10 OVC.
 
USI and TTU went toe-to-toe for the first 19 minutes, with the margin between the two teams never growing to more than four points, while the lead changed hands four times and the score was tied twice. The Golden Eagles took advantage of an 11-2 run to lead 35-29 in the final minute of the half before USI senior guard Ismail Habib hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 35-32 at the intermission.
 
The Screaming Eagles opened the second half with a 10-5 surge to get back in front, 42-41, at the 17:02 point. Junior forward Tolu Samuels started the run with a bucket, while junior guard/forward Amaree Brown and senior forward Ola Ajiboye added four points each during the run to the lead.
 
Control of the game continued to swing back and forth, and neither team built up enough momentum to lead by as many as five points over the next 12 minutes. The high-water mark for USI was a 50-45 advantage with 14:03 left in the game after a pair of free throws by Brown.
 
With USI leading 66-64, the Golden Eagles took control for good in the contest with a 10-0 run to lead 74-66. The Screaming Eagles climbed to within six points in the final 30 seconds but could not get closer before falling 82-74.
 
USI had four players reach double-digits in the loss, led by Habib with 17points. Brown followed with 15 points, while Samuels and Ajiboye rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points each.
 
Before today's game, USI honored Ajiboye, Clay, senior forward Cardell Bailey, and senior forward Ben Ezeagu in Senior Day activities.
 
Next Up For USI:
The Screaming Eagles are on the road for the last four games of the 2025-26 regular season, beginning Thursday when they visit Western Illinois University for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The remaining regular season games, in addition to the meeting at Western Illinois includes visits to Eastern Illinois February 21; Morehead State February 24; and Little Rock February 28.
 
The Leathernecks of WIU are 5-22 overall and 1-15 in the OVC after losing at Little Rock Thursday. WIU is idle until it hosts USI next Thursday.
 
The Leathernecks lead the all-time series with USI, 6-3, after the Screaming Eagles took the first meeting of the year, 96-64, at Liberty Arena.
 
The Panthers of EIU are 11-16 overall and 7-9 in the league after winning at Little Rock, 78-72, this afternoon. EIU, which hosts Morehead State next Thursday before hosting USI, has lost five of its last six games.
 
USI trails the all-time series with EIU, 5-4, following the Panthers' 59-51 victory in overtime at Liberty Arena in January. The Panthers have won three of the last four versus the Screaming Eagles.