EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball lost an overtime heartbreaker to Morehead State University, 64-60, Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 3-9 overall and 0-2 in the OVC, while the MSU Eagles are 5-7, 2-0 OVC.
Senior guard Cardell Bailey led a Screaming Eagles explosion out of the opening tip by scoring 10 points and gave USI a 12-point advantage, 16-4, before six minutes were gone in the game. USI, as a team, hit six of its first eight shots and four-of-five from beyond the arc.
Morehead State cut the advantage to three points, 25-22, with 3:47 before halftime, but USI re-extended the lead to seven points at the end of 20 minutes, 33-26. Bailey had a team-best 14 points to lead the way for the Eagles.
In the second half, Morehead State used a strong defense to stifle the USI offense and would eventually send the game into overtime tied 55-55. The Screaming Eagles were held to 17.4 percent in the second half (4-23) and outscored 29-22.
In overtime, the MSU Eagles scored the first four points to lead, 59-55, before junior guard Kaden Brown brought the Screaming Eagles to within one, 59-58, on a three-pointer from the right side.
After a bucket by Morehead State with 48.4 seconds, USI missed on its first attempt but got the ball back with 30 seconds. Brown would once again pull USI back to within one, 61-60, on a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left.
The MSU Eagles would re-extend the margin to three points, 63-60, with a pair of free throws of their own and withstood one last shot by the Screaming Eagles before closing out the 64-60 victory with one more free throw.
Next Up For USI:
USI will be on the road to open the 2026 calendar. The Screaming Eagles will visit SIU Edwardsville on New Year’s Day and Lindenwood on January 3. Both games are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.
