University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball opened the 2016-17 home schedule with a dominating 103-48 Ohio Valley University Saturday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI sees its record go to 7-0 overall, while Ohio Valley goes to 0-7.
The Screaming Eagles have won seven-straight to start a campaign for the 12th time in the history of the program.
USI broke the game open in the first four minutes, flying out to an 18-0 lead. The 18-0 run to start the game is the best of the season for the Eagles, surpassing the 15-0 run to jump start the win at McKendree University and Great Lakes Valley Conference play.
The Eagles continued to increase the margin throughout the first 20 minutes, leading by as many as 35 points, 53-18, and settling for the 53-26 halftime advantage.
In the second half, USI was unrelenting offensively and extended the lead to as many as 58 points, 97-39, with 2:12 remaining and finished by cruising to the 103-48 final.
As a team, USI shot a commanding 54.3 percent from the field (38-70), hitting 15 field goals from downtown. The Eagles, who won the battle of the boards, 50-35, also was 70.6 percent from the charity stripe (12-17).
Individually, USI junior guard Kyle Aiton (Newburgh, Indiana) came off the bench to lead six Eagles in double-digits with a career-high 19 points. Aiton was a blisting six-of-nine from beyond the arc and connected on one of his two free throws.
Junior forward Julius Rajala (Finland) followed with 14 points, while blocking four shots and grabbing five rebounds. Sophomore guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) and senior guard Bobo Drummond (Peoria, Illinois) were third and fourth on the team with 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
The double-digit scorers were rounded out by the 11 point performance of senior forward Jeril Taylor(Louisville, Kentucky) and 10 point outing from junior forward DayJar Dickson (Washington, D.C). Taylor also completed a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds.
USI concludes the Bill Joergens Memorial Classic and hits the midway point of the three-game homestand when it hosts Lees-McRae College at 7 p.m. Sunday. LMC saw its record go to 2-8 after losing 94-77 at Limestone College tonight.
The Eagles lead the all-time series with LMC, 2-0, after posting a 118-104 win at the PAC last November. Drummond led USI in the victory over LMC last year with a game-high 24 points.
