The seventh-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2017 when it travels to Truman State University and Quincy University for a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference contests. The Screaming Eagles (14-0, 4-0 GLVC) visit Truman Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Kirksville, Missouri, and Quincy Saturday at 3:15 p.m. in Quincy, Illinois.
USI elevated seven spots this week in the NABC Division II Top 25 Poll, climbing to 10th in the official poll of the division. The Eagles rose to their highest level in the national ranking since December of 2012 when they were ranked seventh in the first D2SIDA Media Top 25 Poll of 2017.
Game coverage for this week’s games, including live stats, video streams, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and 95.7FM The Spin.
USI Men’s Basketball vs. Week 10 Quick Notes:
- USI moves up in national rankings.The University of Southern Indiana climbed into the top 10 in both national rankings this week, landing at 10th in the NABC/Division II Top 25 poll and seventh in the D2SIDA Media Top. The last time USI had a national rank of seven or better was December of the 2012-13 season.
- Playing ranked teams.USI will be playing its first ranked teams of 2016-17 when it plays 24th (NABC)/10th (D2SIDA)-ranked Quincy University Saturday afternoon and ninth (NABC)/11th (D2SIDA)-ranked Bellarmine University Monday. The Eagles are 63-59 (.516) against ranked squads since 1992-93, 1-5 last season.
- Eagles move to 14-0. USI resumed GLVC action last week, posting a pair of victories, defeating William Jewell College, 88-71, and Rockhurst University, 98-77, to go to 14-0 overall and 4-0 in the GLVC. The Eagles have reached 14-0 three times (2009-10: 23-0; 2000-01: 16-0; 2016-17: 14-0).
- Leading USI last week.Senior guard Jeril Taylor led USI in the GLVC games with 22.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Alex Stein followed with 15.0 points per contest, shooting a 63.2% from the field, while junior guard Marcellous Washington and senior guard Cortez Macklin rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12.5 and 11.5 points per outing, respectively.
- Eagles had the hot hand vs. Rockhurst.USI shot a season-best 64.2 percent from the field (34-53) versus Rockhurst on Saturday, 72.7 percent (16-22) in the second half. Senior guard Jeril Taylor was a blistering six-of-nine from beyond the arc, while junior guard Marcellous Washington was a lethal five-of-seven from downtown in the win.
- 4-0 in the GLVC.The Eagles are 4-0 to start GLVC play for the 11th time since the creation of the GLVC and the fourth time in 10 years. USI’s best start in GLVC play was 14-0 in 2009-10.
- Leading the GLVC.USI leads the GLVC in scoring (96.4 ppg); scoring margin (+27.2); free throw percentage (79.5 percent); rebounding defense (28.9 per game); and rebound margin (+12.6).
- Holding the boards.The Eagles are holding the line on the glass, outrebounding opponents each of the last 10 games. USI has not been outrebounded this year, tying Ashland University and Kentucky Wesleyan College.
- For the season.Senior guard Jeril Taylor  takes over the USI scoring lead with 19.2 points per game. Taylor is followed by sophomore guard Alex Stein, who is posting 18.2 point per contest; junior forward Julius Rajala, who is dropping in 12.7 points per outing, and senior guard Bobo Drummond, who is averaging 10.9 points per game off the bench.
- USI vs. Truman State.USI has a 3-1 lead in the all-time series with Truman State University, posting all three of the wins at the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles’ only loss to the Bulldogs was in Kirksville, Missouri, in overtime, 71-68, in 2013-14. USI won last year’s match-up, 81-64, at the PAC and was led by senior guard Bobo Drummond with 16 points.
- USI vs. Quincy.USI leads the all-time series, 29-10, and has a 9-5 advantage at Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Illinois. The Hawks defeated the Eagles last year at the PAC, 96-92, with senior guards Bobo Drummond and Jeril Taylor leading the way with 25 and 20 points, respectively, for USI.
