Eagles fight hard, fall to Irish USI hosts Loras Friday at 7 p.m.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball fought hard, but lost to the University of Notre Dame, 82-70, Wednesday evening in South Bend, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles are 1-2 after tonight’s action, while the Fighting Irish begin 2022-23, 3-0.
 
The Eagles fell behind early in the opening half as the Irish took advantage USI’s cold field goal shooting to post a 13-5 lead before six minutes were gone. USI was just two-of-nine from field to start game.
 
Notre Dame doubled up USI at 22-11 and posted its largest lead at 30-13 with 7:07 remaining the opening frame. The Eagles would battle back with an 8-3 run to cut the deficit to 33-21 with 3:53 on the first half clock when senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) laid in a bucket. Polakovich had six of the eight points during the surge.
 
USI cooled in the final two minutes of the first half as Notre Dame re-extended the margin to 17, 42-25, and conclude the first half.
 
After the Irish opened with a pair of buckets to take a 21-point lead, 46-25, to begin the final 20 minutes, the Eagles’ offense caught fire with a 18-5 run to cut the deficit to nine points, 51-43. Polakovich led the way with eight of the 17-points, while graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) dropped in five.
 
Notre Dame would rebound to re-extend their advantage to double-digits with a quick 12-4 burst to lead 61-45 at the midway point of the second half. The Irish would slowly pull away in the final five minutes in putting the lid on a 82-70 final, despite USI scoring the final eight points.  
 
USI, as a team, was dead even in the battle on the glass, 35-35, and for the third-straight game was a smoother team in the second half. The Eagles shot 48.4 percent from the field (15-31) in the second half, compared to 34.4 percent (11-32) in the opening half, and outscored the Irish, 45-40, in the final 20 minutes.
 
Individually, Lakes led three players in double-digits with 21 points. He was seven-of-11 from the field, five-of-seven from long range, and two-of-three from the stripe.
 
Polakovich followed with 16 points and 10 rebounds in his 2022-23 debut. The senior forward was seven-of-10 from the field and completed his first double-double by grabbing three offensive and seven defensive boards.
 
Junior guard Gary Solomon (Detroit, Michigan) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points and dished a game-high five assists.