 20th-ranked University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball started fast before going cold and falling at 16th-ranked University of Indianapolis, 86-74, Thursday evening in Indianapolis, Indiana. USI goes to 9-3 overall and 1-3 in the GLVC, while UIndy is 10-2, 2-2 GLVC.
The Eagles exploded out of the gate to start the game, hitting five three-point field goals before nine minutes were gone and had a 13-point lead, 35-22, when senior guard Darnell Butler hit a three-pointer at the 8:26 mark. USI, as a team, was a blistering 11-of-16 from the field and eight-of-nine from downtown by the time it had built the 13-point lead.
UIndy saw its offense kick into gear at that point and surged to a 43-37 lead by halftime on a 21-2 run to end the opening half. USI’s shooters also went cold during the Greyhound run, missing their last 10 shots.
The start of the second half did not improve for the Eagles as the Greyhounds extended the run with a 13-2 surge to lead by 17-points, 56-39. UIndy extended the margin to as many as 18 points twice during the final half.
USI attempted to regain momentum in the final 10 minutes of the game with a 15-7 offensive rush beginning with 8:53 remaining. The run ended with USI chopping the margin down to 10 points, 76-66, when junior forward Josh Price converted an old fashion three-point play with 3:44 left. The 10-point gap would be as close as USI would come the rest of the game.
The Eagles finished the game with three players in double-digits with junior guard Mateo Rivera leading the way with 15 points. Rivera, who also had a team-high seven rebounds, was five-of-12 from the field, four-of-seven from downtown, and one-of-two from the stripe.
Junior guard/forward Clayton Hughes followed Rivera with 13 points on a blistering four-of-five from the field, two-of-two from beyond the arc, and three-of-four from the line, while Price rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points.
USI returns to the Screaming Eagles Arena Saturday to host number one-ranked Bellarmine University for a special 7:30 p.m. tip. Eagle fans and USI students are encouraged to wear blue and use the hashtag “BlueOutBellarmine”.
Bellarmine started this week’s action 10-0 and 3-0 in the GLVC before visiting McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois, this evening.
USI leads the all-time series versus Bellarmine University, 52-44, after splitting four games last season. The Eagles lost at home 92-80, but bounced back to win on the road, 80-76, during the regular season before falling to the Knights in the GLVC Tournament, 67-61, Edwardsville, Illinois, and winning the NCAA II Midwest Regional, 76-69, at Romeoville, Illinois.
