Eagles have a split week in OVC USI-EIU is Suits and Sneakers Game​​​​​​​

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball will be making a push for sole possession of first in the Ohio Valley Conference when it hosts Eastern Illinois University Thursday at Screaming Eagles Arena and visits the University of Tennessee at Martin Saturday. Tipoff Thursday versus EIU is set for 7:30 p.m., while the start time on the road at UTM is 3:30 p.m. in Martin, Tennessee.
 
USI also will be promoting the National Association of Basketball Coaches Coaches vs. Cancer program with the annual Suits and Sneakers game. The USI Men’s Basketball coaches will be wearing suits and sneakers as a way to raise awareness and promote cancer screenings.
 
The Screaming Eagles (12-9, 5-3 OVC) enter the week with the OVC’s top winning streak (four games) after sweeping their first road swing in Division I. USI started the week with a big win over Lindenwood University, 81-65, and concluded the road swing by holding on to defeat Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 82-72.
 
Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) led USI during the sweep in scoring with 20.5 points per game, including a season-high 24 points in the win over Lindenwood. Sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) and graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) followed with 19.5 points and 16.5 points per contest, while senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) averaged the double-double with 12.5 points and 17.5 rebounds per game.
 
Polakovich, who also was named co-OVC Player of the Week, averaged 17.5 rebounds per game with 23 coming in the win over SIUE.
 
For the season, Swope leads the way with 14.1 points per game, followed by Lakes, who is posting 13.5 points per game. Simmons is third with 13.4 points per outing, while Polakovich rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.9 points per outing and is posting a team-best 12.2 rebounds per game.
 
The Panthers (7-14, 3-5 OVC) have lost five of six since defeating the Eagles in December after falling to Tennessee State University, 78-74, and UTM, 91-78, last week. Junior guard Kinyon Hodges leads the Panthers with 14.4 points per game.
 
EIU took the first meeting of the season, 91-80, in Charleston back in December. USI was led by Lakes and junior guard Gary Solomon (Detroit, Michigan) with 16 points each.
 
UTM (13-8, 5-3 OVC) is 3-2 in its last five games, wins at Southeast Missouri State University, 80-60, and at home versus EIU, 91-78, last week.  The Skyhawks have three players in double-digits for 2022-23 and led by graduate guard Parker Stewart with 16.8 points per game.
 
USI won the opening matchup in OVC play, 80-66, and was led by Swope, who had 21 points. The Eagles have won four of the last five matchups with UTM. The Skyhawks own the series in Martin, 3-0.
 
All 2022-23 games are normally streamed on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.