University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball rallied in the second half to defeat ninth-ranked Bellarmine University, 89-82, in overtime on Senior Night Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI watched its record rise to 18-10 overall and 10-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while Bellarmine went to 22-5, 15-3 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles struggled out of the gate, shooting only 34.4 percent (11-32) in the first 20 minutes, and trailed at the intermission, 45-30. Freshman guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) had the best half for the Eagles, scoring 12 points on five-of-eight from the field and two-of-two from beyond the arc.
In the second half, a new Eagles squad emerged from the locker as the momentum swung completely in USI’s favor. USI, which shot 51.9 percent from the field in the second half (14-27), methodically chipped away at the 15-point halftime deficit with short bursts until the Eagles surged with an 18-6 run to tie the game at the end of regulation, 74-74, on a pair of free throws by junior guard Bobo Drummond (Peoria, Illinois).
USI junior forward T.J. Tisdell (Cape Girardeau, Missouri) and junior guard Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky) led the second half comeback with 12 points each. Tisdell was five-of-seven from the field in the second half and grabbed six boards, while Taylor was two-of-four from the field, including a pair of three-point field goals, and a clutch six-of-six from the line.
The Eagles’ offensive surge continued into the overtime period as USI doubled up the Knights, 15-8, in the extra five minutes. Tisdell led the Eagles to the victory in overtime with six points on a field goal and four-of-five free throws in the final 30 seconds, while grabbing five rebounds.
Overall, Tisdell posted his fourth-straight double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds. He was six-of-11 from the field, seven-of-13 from the line. Ten of the 15 rebounds came on the offensive side of the court.
Four additional Eagles followed Tisdell in the scoring column with double-digits. Taylor finished the contest with 18 points, while Stein added four points in the second half for 16 points. Drummond and senior forward Shane Seniour (Newburgh, Indiana) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
The Eagles start post-season play Sunday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Rockhurst University in the first round of the GLVC Tournament. Rockhurst finished the 2015-16 campaign 12-14, 7-11 GLVC, after falling to William Jewell College, 86-69, tonight in Kansas City, Missouri.
USI has a 15-1 all-time series lead over Rockhurst, 6-0 at the PAC, after the Eagles defeated the Hawks, 79-71, on January 7 in Kansas City. Taylor and Stein had 16 points and 15 points, respectively, in the victory.
