CHARLESTON, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana senior guard Ismail Habib nailed a three-pointer with one second on the clock to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 70-68 victory over Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon at Groniger Arena in Charleston, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles, who completed their first conference week sweep of the season, go to 7-21 overall and 4-14 in the OVC, while the Panthers are 11-17, 7-10 OVC.
 
After the Panthers rallied from a 22-point deficit to take a 68-66 lead with 24 seconds to play, Habib took over for the Screaming Eagles. The senior guard narrowed the gap to 68-67 by making one of two from the stripe before sinking the game-winning three-pointer with one second on the clock.
 
USI sophomore guard Josiah Dunham started the final play by making a steal with eight seconds and dishing to Habib for the game-winner.
 
The Screaming Eagles had an early lead to start the game, jumping out in front, 16-8, to start the game. The Panthers would rally to take the lead, 18-16, but USI would explode on a 20-2 run in the final 6:40 of the opening half to lead 36-20 after a three-pointer by Habib to end the first 20 minutes. Junior guard/forward Amaree Brown led the run to halftime with nine points during the surge.
 
In the second half, USI scored the first six points to extend the lead to a game-high 22 points, 42-20, with 19:02 to play on a pair of free throws by senior forward Ola Ajiboye. EIU would commence its comeback by outscoring USI, 48-24, over the next 18 minutes for the 68-66 margin and set the stage for Habib in the final seconds.
 
For the game for USI, Brown led four Screaming Eagles in double-figures with 22 points. He was seven-of-14 from the field, including a three-pointer, and seven-of-eight from the stripe.
 
Habib and Ajiboye followed with 15 points and 13 points, respectively, while Dunham rounded out the double-digit scorers with a career-high 12 points. Dunham also hit a career-high four-of-six from beyond the arc.
 
USI junior forward Tolu Samuels reached double-figures on the glass for the 11^th time this season with 11 rebounds.
 
Next Up For USI:
The Screaming Eagles continue the second half of a four-game road swing Tuesday when they visit Morehead State for a 6:30 p.m. (CT) contest. The final game of the 2025-26 season will be February 28 when USI visits Little Rock for a 3:30 p.m. contest.   
 
The Eagles of Morehead are 17-12 overall and 13-5 in the OVC after defeating Western Illinois today, 81-59, in Macomb, Illinois, to win their fifth-straight.  
 
Morehead leads the all-time series with USI, 6-1, after defeating the Screaming Eagles,  64-60, back in December. USI senior guard Cardell Bailey led USI in the loss with 17 points.
 
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.
 
The remaining regular season games, in addition to Eastern Illinois, are at Morehead State February 24 and Little Rock February 28.