USI starts homestand with 63-54 loss
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball started the final homestand of the season with a 63-54 loss to Eastern Illinois University Thursday evening at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles are 9-18 overall and 4-13 in OVC action, while the Panthers go to 9-18, 5-11 OVC.
After grabbing a 4-0 lead to start the game, USI had to battle from behind for most of the first half and fought back to within three at the break, 30-27. The Eagles trailed by as many as nine points (16-7) before using a 20-14 surge in the final 10 minutes of the half.
USI was three-of-nine for the first 10 minutes of the game before getting in gear offensively. The Eagles were eight-of-20 for the remainder of the half with sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi and junior guard Damoni Harrison leading the charge with six points and five points, respectively.
Olowoniyi and Harrison would tie for the team lead after the first 20 minutes with eight points each.
The Eagles continued to close the gap, pulling to within one point, 42-41, with 12:24 on a lay-in by Harrison. The Panthers would maintain the lead despite the pressure by the Eagles, who would close the gap to one point one more time at 52-51 with 4:02 to play.
USI would misfire on the next six trips down the floor as EIU pulled away to a 60-51 lead. The Eagles would get one more three-pointer before the buzzer sounded on the 63-54 final.
In the final box score, Harrison and Olowoniyi led the way for the Eagles with 20 points and 16 points, respectively. Harrison was seven-of-14 from the field, including three three-point field goals and three free throws, while Olowoniyi was six-of-seven from the field and four-of-four from the stripe.
Next Up For USI:
The Eagles conclude the 2024-25 home schedule at Liberty Arena when they host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday. Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. tipoff is Senior Night, Fan Appreciation Night, and Ascension St. Vincent Night at Liberty Arena.
The first 500 fans will receive a free fan appreciation t-shirt.
USI will celebrate Senior Night Saturday before the game with SIUE, recognizing graduate forward Nick Hittle, graduate guard Sam Mervis, and graduate forward Jack Mielke.
SIUE is 18-9 and 11-5 OVC after winning at Morehead State University, 80-62, this evening. The Cougars are five of their last six and 11 of the last 14.
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 46-24, despite falling to the Cougars in January, 82-76, in Edwardsvilles. USI, which trails SIUE, 4-2, since moving to Division I, was led in the loss by Harrison, who posted a team-high 15 points. Junior guard Sam Kodi and Olowoniyi followed with 12 points and 11 points, respectively, while Randall and junior guard Braxton Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points each.
