University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball opens the 2017-18 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule this week, hosting Lewis University Thursday at the Physical Activities Center and visiting the University of Indianapolis Saturday in Indianapolis. Tipoff for the USI-Lewis match-up to conclude the Screaming Eagles’ longest homestand of the year is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, while the start time for USI-UIndy is slated for 2:15 p.m. (CST) Saturday.
Game coverage for all of USI’s GLVC action, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on ESPN 97.7 WREF and 95.7FM The Spin.
USI Men’s Basketball Week 5 Notes:Â
USI 3-0 on homestand. The University of Southern Indiana is 3-0 during its homestand after defeating Martin Methodist College, 84-56, November 25. Senior guard Marcellous Washington led the Screaming Eagles with 19 points, while junior guard Alex Stein added 16 points. USI also won the rebounding battle, 47-27.
Eagle Highs. Four Eagles reached season and career-highs during the win over Martin Methodist. Senior forward Julius Rajala grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and posted his first double-double as an Eagle; junior guard Alex Stein tied a career-best with three steals; senior guard Marcellous Washington tied a season-best with seven assists; and junior forward Jacob Norman posted season-highs with nine points and six rebounds.
Eagles dominating the glass. The Eagles dominated the glass in the two victories over Fisk University and Martin Methodist, 98-51. USI won the battle on the boards, 51-24, against Fisk and 47-27 versus Martin Methodist.
Leaders during the homestand. Junior guard Alex Stein leads four Eagles scoring in double-digits during the homestand, averaging 18.3 points per game. Junior guard/forward Nate Hansen follows with 14.3 points per contest, while senior forward Julius Rajala and senior guard Marcellous Washington round out the double-digit scorers with 10.7 points per game, each. Senior forward DayJar Dickson also is grabbing a team-high 9.5 rebounds per outing.
Leaders through seven games. USI has three players averaging in double-digits through the first seven games of 2017-18. Junior forward Alex Stein leads the scorers with 18.3 points per game, while junior guard/forward Nate Hansen and senior guard Marcellous Washington round out the double-digit scorers with 16.0 and 15.4 points per contest, respectively. Senior forward DayJar Dickson leads the Eagles on the glass with 9.0 rebounds per contest.
USI concludes homestand, starts GLVC play. USI concludes its longest homestand of the year with the start of 2017-18 Great Lakes Valley Conference play when it hosts Lewis University Thursday. The Eagles hit the road for a quick GLVC-trip to the University of Indianapolis to finish the first GLVC weekend.
- USI vs. Lewis. USI leads the all-time series with Lewis, 45-24, after defeating the Flyers, 80-57, last season. USI junior guard Alex Stein paced four Eagles in double-digits with 18 points. The Eagles also have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Flyers.
- USI at UIndy. USI leads the all-time series with UIndy, 54-22, after falling to the Greyhounds, 81-66, last season in Indianapolis. USI guard Jeril Taylor led three Eagles in double-digits with 20 points. The Eagles are 6-4 in the last 10 games versus the Greyhounds.
USI predicted to place fourth in tough GLVC East Division. In the GLVC preseason poll, the league’s head coaches forecast that USI would place fourth in the East Division, while UIndy was predicted to finish second in the division and Lewis third in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
