The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team did not get its Homecoming week off to a good start, falling to Maryville University, 89-80, Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI watched its record go to 15-9 overall and 7-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while Maryville went to 9-15, 3-11 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles trailed for most of the first half, including a five-point deficit at the intermission, 40-35. USI led five times in the opening half, including its largest margin, 23-20, with 9:21 remaining to the half.
The opening half featured six ties and eight lead changes with the Saints posting the largest margin of the first 20 minutes, a six-point 14-8.
In the second half, USI dashed back into the lead with an 8-2 run, 43-42, in the first two minutes. The Eagles relinquished the advantage once again, but rallied to take its largest lead of the game, 57-53, on an 8-0 run with 12:35 left. USI would lead only once more, 59-57, before Maryville took the lead for good, 60-59, with 8:54 to play.
The Saints were lights out from the field in the second half, shooting 74.1 percent (20-27) in the final 20 minutes. Maryville led by as many as 12 points in the final minutes before settling for the 89-80 win.
USI junior guard Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky) posted a team-high 24 points in the loss. Taylor was followed by senior guard Travis Britt (Rantoul, Illinois), who had 12 points, and senior forward Shane Seniour  (Newburgh, Indiana), who had 11 points.
The Eagles conclude the homestand Saturday at 3:15 p.m. when they host the Tritons of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Tritons went to 10-13 overall and 4-10 in the GLVC after falling to Bellarmine University, 81-71, in Louisville, Kentucky, tonight.
USI leads the all-time series with the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 34-11, and at the PAC, 11-0, since 2000. The Eagles took the only meeting last year, 76-69, in St. Louis, Missouri.
