Eagles Hope To Bounce Back On The Road​​​​
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball hopes to bounce back as it hits the road for the first time in February with Great Lakes Valley Conference visits to Drury University and Southwest Baptist University. The Screaming Eagles visits Drury Thursday at 7:45 p.m. in Springfield, Missouri, and Southwest Baptist Saturday at 3 p.m. in Bolivar, Missouri.
Game coverage information for USI Men’s Basketball, including live stats, video, and audio broadcasts, is available on GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.
Following this week’s road trip, USI comes home to Screaming Eagles Arena for two of the final three home games of the year when it hosts Maryville University on February 17 and Missouri University of Science & Technology on February 19. The final regular-season home game of 2021-22 and Senior Day is February 26 when the Eagles host Lindenwood University.
USI Men’s Basketball vs. Drury, Southwest Baptist Quick Notes:
USI Has A Winning Streak Stopped At Six.
USI extended its winning streak to a season-best six games with a win over Rockhurst, 90-64, before falling to William Jewell College, 64-60, to conclude the homestand. Junior guard Jelani Simmons and sophomore guard Isaiah Stafford led the Eagles with 16 points each versus Rockhurst, while Simmons had 15 points to pace the Eagles versus William Jewell.
Doing the job on defense. The Eagles are holding the opposition under 70 points per game for the season for the first time since 2012-13 (64.6). USI also is averaging 28.6 defensive rebounds per game this season.
Leading Scorer: Junior guard Jelani Simmons leads the way in scoring this season with 12.6 points per game. He is followed closely by sophomore guard Tyler Henry and junior forward Jacob Polakovich with11.6 points per game each.
Simmons has the hot hand. Junior guard Jelani Simmons is averaging 14.6 points per game over the last seven outing. Simmons has posted 15 or more points in six of the last seven games.
Polakovich doubles up to lead the Eagles. Junior forward Jacob Polakovich is averaging a team-best 11.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in 2021-22. Polakovich, the GLVC leader and ranked ninth nationally in rebounding, also has defended the USI glass with 7.4 defensive boards per contest this season.
Stafford as a starter. Freshman guard Isaiah Stafford has averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game since becoming entering the starting lineup. On the season, Stafford is averaging 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per contest.
USI vs. Drury. USI holds a slim 13-12 advantage in the all-time series with Drury University and the two teams have split the last six meetings. Last season, USI won the only contest, 91-90, at Screaming Eagles Arena.
Drury in 2021-22. Drury is 7-11 overall and 4-6 in the GLVC after posting a 72-65 victory over William Jewell College Monday. The Panthers have moved from the bottom of the GLVC West Division to the middle of the pack by winning their last two.
USI vs. Southwest Baptist. The Bearcats hold a one-game lead in the season series, 3-2, after defeating USI in January, 65-61, at Screaming Eagles Arena. Freshman guard Isaiah Swope led the Eagles with 16 points in the January match-up. The teams have alternated wins in the five games of the series, dating back to 1984.
Southwest Baptist in 2021-22. SBU, currently, leads the GLVC West Division with a 10-3 league mark and a 16-4 overall record. The Bearcats, who have won their last four, started the week with an 88-83 double-overtime win over McKendree University and hosts the University of Indianapolis Thursday before welcoming the Eagles.
