24th-ranked University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball took command early and cruised to a 99-54 victory over Bluefield College Wednesday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI sees its record go to 9-0 overall for the eighth time in the history of the program, while Bluefield is 7-9 in 2016-17.
The Screaming Eagles used a 30-7 run in the final 13 minutes of the first half to take a commanding 48-18 lead into the locker room at halftime. USI, which led by as many as 30 twice during the first 20 minutes, was 19-of-37 from the field during the opening stanza and was led by senior guard Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky) with 11 points, while sophomore forward Jacob Norman(Evansville, Indiana) and sophomore guard Alex Stein(Evansville, Indiana) added nine points each in the half.
USI extended the lead to as many as 45 points twice in the second half, including the 99-54 final score. The Eagles heated up from the field in the second half, shooting 57.6 percent (19-33) in the final 20 minutes, and had total control of the boards in the game, 50-26.
Individually in the game, Taylor led the way for the Eagles with his second double-double of the year, 23 points and 12 rebounds. The senior guard shot nine-of-15 from the field, three-of-seven from beyond the arc, and two-of-three from the line.
Taylor was followed by three Eagles scoring in double-digits. Stein finished the game with 16 points and a team-high five assists, while Norman and junior forward Julius Rajala (Finland) with 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
Eagles’ junior center Carter Davis (Denver, Colorado) came off the bench to record a pair of career-highs and narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, while senior guard Bobo Drummond (Peoria, Illinois) also had a season-high with seven boards.
USI will complete the 2016 calendar on the road Friday and Saturday, playing in the Bellarmine Classic in Louisville, Kentucky. The Eagles are slated to play Martin Methodist College, which is 5-6 this year, Friday at 4 p.m. and Kentucky State University, which is 2-6 this season, Saturday at 4 p.m.
The meeting with Martin Methodist will be the first for the Eagles, while USI holds a 19-3 all-time series lead with Kentucky State. The Eagles defeated Kentucky State last year, 111-101, at the PAC.
USI is playing in the Bellarmine Classic for the eighth time and has posted a record of 12-2 in the tournament since 2009-10. Last season, USI was 2-0 in the tournament, defeating Shaw University, 85-64, and St. Catharine College, 94-63.
