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.