Eagles conclude 2016 calendar this week

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The 24th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball teams concludes the 2016 calendar year with a trio of games this week. The Screaming Eagles start the week with the finale of the three-game homestand against Bluefield College Wednesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to the Bellarmine Classic for a pair of games Friday and Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky.

In the Bellarmine Classic, USI is slated to play Martin Methodist College Friday and Kentucky State University Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 4 p.m. (CST) tip-offs.

Game coverage for this week’s game, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM.

USI Men’s Basketball vs. Week 6 Quick Notes:

  • USI enters national rankings.The University of Southern Indiana enters the top 25 rankings at number 24 after only receiving votes the last two weeks. The Eagles (8-0) received 35 points in the NABC/Division II Top 25 poll and 75 points in the D2SIDA Top 25 poll. The national ranking is the first for the Eagles since January 19 in 2015-16.
  • Eagles are 2-0 to start home schedule. The University of Southern Indiana is 2-0 to start the 2016-17 home schedule after posting wins over Ohio Valley University, 103-48, and Lees-McRae College, 98-83. The Screaming Eagles finish the three-game home set Wednesday versus NAIA’s Bluefield College.
  • Stein leads during homestand.Sophomore guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) leads the Eagles with 21.5 points per game during the first two games of the homestand. Stein reached the 30-point plateau for the second time this season in the win over Lees-McRae. The sophomore also leads the team for the season with 22.0 points per game.
  • Norman, Aiton have career nights off the bench.Junior guard Kyle Aiton (Newburgh, Indiana) came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points in the victory over Ohio Valley, while sophomore forward Jacob Norman (Evansville, Indiana) posted career-highs of 18 points and nine rebounds in the win over Lees-McRae.
  • USI is 8-0 again!The Screaming Eagles are 8-0 for the 11th time in the history of the program. The last time USI started a year 8-0 was in 2013-14 when the Eagles started the year, 11-0.
  • Bluefield CollegeUSI and Bluefield College will be meeting for the first time in history of the two programs. Bluefield, a NAIA team that is 7-9 in 2016-17, is listing its match-up with USI as an exhibition game.
  • Martin Methodist College.USI and Martin Methodist College will be meeting for the first time in history of the two programs at the Bellarmine Classic. Martin Methodist, a NAIA team, is 5-6 in 2016-17.
  • Kentucky State University.USI leads the all-time series with Kentucky State University, 19-3, after the Eagles defeated the Thorobreds, 111-101, last season. KSU is 2-6 overall in 2016-17 and is slated to play Bellarmine University in the Bellarmine Classic before a showdown with USI in the early game Saturday.
  • USI in the Bellarmine Classic.The Eagles are playing in the Bellarmine Classic for the eighth time and have posted a record of 12-2 in the tournament since 2009-10. Last season, USI was 2-0 in the tournament, defeating Shaw University, 85-64, and St. Catharine College, 94-63.

 

NABC/Division II Top 25 (Div. II Official Poll)
1. Northwest Missouri State (13)
2. Fairmont State, W.Va. (3)
3. St. Thomas Aquinas, N.Y.
4. Queens, N.C.
5. West Liberty, W.Va.
6. Bellarmine, Ky.
7. Saginaw Valley State, Mich.
8. Angelo State, Texas
9. Drury, Mo.
10. California Baptist
11. Alabama-Huntsville
12. Western Washington
13. Wheeling Jesuit, W.Va.
14. Barry, Fla.
15. Tarleton State, Texas
16. Kutztown, Pa.
17. Indiana, Pa.
18. Fort Lewis, Colo.
19. West Texas A&M
20. UC San Diego
21. San Francisco State, Calif.
22.Shippensburg, Pa.
23. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.
24. Southern Indiana
25.Columbus State, Ga.

D2SIDA/Media Poll Top 25
1. Northwest Missouri
2. Fairmont State
3. St. Thomas Aquinas
4. Bellarmine
5. Queens
6. California Baptist
7. West Liberty
8. West Texas A&M
9. Alabama-Huntsville
10. Angelo State
11. Drury
12. Barry
13. Saginaw Valley State
14. Shippensburg
15. Tarleton State
16. San Francisco State
17. Western Washington
18. Augusta (Ga.)
19. Southern New Hampshire
20. Minnesota State Moorhead
21. UC San Diego
22. Lincoln Memorial
23. Augustana
24. Southern Indiana
25. Wheeling Jesuit

 

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