CHICAGO, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball battled valiantly for 45 minutes before falling in overtime to DePaul University, 80-78, Monday evening at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles start the year 0-1, while DePaul begins 2024-25, 1-0d.
DePaul started the scoring and built an 11-5 lead early before the Eagles exploded on an 11-0 run to take their first lead of the season 16-11. USI sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi led the way during the offensive surge with six of the 11 points, including a spectacular fast-break dunk off a pass from junior guard Sam Kodi.
Following USI’s extension of the lead to six, 25-19, on a three-pointer by junior guard Damoni Harrison, the Blue Demons rallied on a 15-3 burst to retake the advantage, 34-28. DePaul would close the half with a bucket to lead 44-40 at the break. Harrison and junior guard Jayland Randall, who had USI’s first bucket of the season, led the Eagles during the first 20 minutes with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
DePaul opened the second half by extending its lead to as many as nine points, 61-52, with 11:47 on the clock. The Eagles, however, were not done as they would chip away and close the gap to 68-66 with 3:45 to play in the contest.
Olowoniyi would put the Eagles out in front, 72-69, with back-to-back buckets and a free throw with 53 ticks left on the clock. USI would try to hold onto the three-point lead, but DePaul would knot the game at 74-74 with 1.6 seconds on the clock and force overtime.
In the extra time, both teams missed on the first four possessions combined before Randall gave the Eagles a quick lead, 76-74. DePaul responded by tying the score, 76-76, and grabbing the lead, 78-76, with 1:27 left. Randall knotted the game at 78-78 with his second bucket of overtime, but the Blue Demons took the lead for good, 80-78, on a pair of free throws with two seconds to play.
USI had one more chance, but misfired as the final buzzer sounded, 80-78.
In the loss, Olowoniyi led three Eagles in double-digits with 23 points and a team-high nine rebounds. The sophomore forward scored 23 points on 11-of-17 from the field and one-of-one from the stripe.
Randall followed with 22 points on a blistering nine-of-11 from the field, three-of-three from long range, and one of two from the stripe. Harrison closed out the double-digit scorers with 17 points on six-of-eight from the field, two-of-three from beyond the arc, and three-of-four from the line.
As a team, USI shot 50 percent from the field (31-62) and won the battle of the boards, 36-35.
Next Up For USI:
USI opens up the 2024-25 home schedule Thursday when it hosts Bucknell University for a 7 p.m. contest at Liberty Arena. The Bison started their season with an 85-73 win at the University of Delaware this evening.
In the first-ever meeting versus Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USI stumbled, 67-56, on the road last season. Forward Jack Mielke led USI with 14 points, while guard Jordan Tillman followed with 13 in the loss.
