EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) and senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) combined for 41 points and led the Screaming Eagles to a 78-74 win over Eastern Illinois University Thursday evening in Screaming Eagles Arena. The Eagles go to 13-9 overall and 6-3 in the OVC, while the Panthers are 7-15, 3-6 OVC. Â
With the victory, USI has won five-straight games and remains in a five-way tie for first in the OVC. USI is tied with the University of Tennessee at Martin, Morehead State University, Tennessee Tech University, and Southeast Missouri State University for the first place slot at 6-3 in league play. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville fell to sixth after falling to Tennessee Tech this evening. Â
USI got off to a great start with an 8-1 run and that seven-point lead methodically grew to as many as 20 points, 44-24, before the end of the half. The Eagles would leave the court with an 18-point halftime margin, 47-31.
The USI first half surge was led by Simmons, who dominated with 20 first half points on six three-point field goals in eight attempts and pair of free throws.
Polakovich was nearly as dominating in the first 20 minutes with a double-double before the intermission. He had 11 points on five field goals and a free throw in addition to grabbing 13 rebounds on seven offensive and six defensive boards.
The second half saw the Eagles and the Panthers trade buckets for the first 13 minutes until EIU used a 22-7 run to climb back into the game and cut USI’s margin to three points, 70-67, with 2:18 to play. USI would regain control down the stretch, helped by a big three-point field goal by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) to make the score 75-69 with 34 seconds to play
USI would seal the 78-74 victory with three free throws in the final seconds, one each by Swope, Simmons, and junior guard Gary Solomon (Detroit, Michigan)
The Eagles finished the game with four players in double-digits, led by Simmons, who finished with 21 points after adding one more in the second half. Simmons was six-of-12 overall, six-of-10 from long distance, and three-of-six from the line
Polakovich, who posted his second 20-20 game of the season, concluded the evening with 20 points, adding nine in the second half, and 24 rebounds, adding another 11 in the final 20 minutes. The senior forward had four 20 rebound games this season (most in NCAA Division I) and nine double-doubles this season
Swope and graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points and 10 points, respectively
USI junior guard Tyler Henry (Brooklyn, New York) highlighted the evening by reach 1,000 career points with his five points in the first half. Henry has scored 578 at USI (2020-Present) and 422 points with Lane College (2019-20).
