EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball road a third-straight double-double by junior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) to a defeated of GLVC East Division leading Lewis University Saturday afternoon in Screaming Eagles Arena. USI goes to 8-4 overall and 3-3 in the GLVC, while Lewis, which had its six-game winning streak snapped, is 6-6 overall, 4-1 in the league.
The Screaming Eagles began slowly in the opening half, hitting only 30 percent for their shots from the field (8-26), but a strong defensive effort kept the score close in the first 20 minutes. Lewis put some distance between the two teams with a 16-9 run, including a three with no time left on the clock, to take a 31-24 lead into halftime.
The second half got off to a good start for the Eagles when they cut the deficit to three, 33-30, when sophomore forward Elijah Jones (Chicago Heights, Illinois) converted an old fashion three-point play with 17:10 left in the contest. The Flyers, however, used a 5-0 burst to get the lead back to eight, 38-30.
The Flyers continued to nurse their slim lead until the Eagles went on a 16-6 explosion get their first lead of the game with 6:15 to play, 50-46, on back-to-back buckets by freshman guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana). Swope and junior forward Tyler Dancy (Belleville, Illinois) led the Eagles during the run with four points each.
The final four minutes belonged to the Eagles as they extended their margin to a game-best 67-57 final score on a 17-9 run to the finish. Polakovich led the charge with six of the final 17 points, while Jones dropped in four more.
As a team, USI once again dominated the glass overall, 52-23, and in the second half, 30-7.
Polakovich led three players in double-digits with 18 points, while completing his third-straight double-double with 15 rebounds. The junior forward was four-of-seven from the field and 10-of-14 from the stripe, while grabbing seven offensive and eight defensive rebounds.
For the three-game homestand, Polakovich averaged a double-double with 17.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per game in 27.7 minutes per contest. He also has had seven double-doubles in his last nine contests.
Jones followed in the scoring column with 11 points on a blistering four-of-five from the field and three-of-three from the line. Swope rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.
COMING UP FOR USI:
USI hit the road for three-straight next week when it visits #21 (NABC)/#19 (D2SIDA) Truman State University and Quincy University, plus a rescheduled contest at Lindenwood University. Tipoff Thursday at Truman is set for 7:30 p.m., while the start time Saturday at Quincy is 3 p.m. The rescheduled game Monday (January 31) at Lindenwood is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Truman, which is sitting on top of the GLVC Central Division, watched its record go to 12-4 overall and 6-2 in the GLVC after falling, 78-68, at Lindenwood University today. The Bulldogs have won eight of their last 10 games coming into Thursday’s match-up.
USI has a 7-4 all-time series lead over Truman, despite dropping the last two meetings. The Eagles lost both meetings last year, falling on the road, 76-69, and at home, 75-72, after they had won the last three match-ups.
Quincy, which is at the bottom of the GLVC Central, went to 9-11 overall and 2-8 in the league following an 87-66 at the University of Missouri-St. Louis this afternoon. The Hawks, who are slated to host the University of Indianapolis Thursday before hosting the Eagles, have lost their last five games and seven of their last nine since ushering in 2022.
USI has a 35-10 lead in the all-time series with Quincy and has won the last six match-ups with the Hawks. The Eagles won the first game on the road last year, 83-77, and the second at Screaming Eagles Arena, 86-71.
