Eagles start 2017 with Bluefield State

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The 11th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team begins the 2017 calendar year with a three game homestand, beginning January 2 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Bluefield State University (1-10) at the Physical Activities Center.

The Screaming Eagles finish the homestand by restarting the Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule by welcoming William Jewell College to the PAC January 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Rockhurst University January 7 at 3:15 p.m. The USI-Rockhurst contest will feature the annual USI Alumni Association Soup and Hot Dog Dinner at the game.

Game coverage for the homestand, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and 95.7FM The Spin.

USI Men’s Basketball vs. Week 8 Quick Notes:

  • USI moves up in national rankings.The University of Southern Indiana rose in the national rankings, moving to 11th in the D2SIDA/Media Top 25 and 20th in the NABC Division II Top 25. The number 11 ranking is the highest for USI since 2013-14.
  • Eagles start new year 11-0. USI finished the 2016 portion of the season with an 11-0 record after defeating Martin Methodist College, 100-62, and Kentucky State University, 99-54. USI is 11-0 for the sixth time in the history of the program.
  • Taylor named GLVC Player of the Week.Senior guard Jeril Taylor was named the GLVC Player of the Week for the second time this year after averaging 22 points and 8.7 rebounds per game versus Bluefield College, Martin Methodist, and Kentucky State. Taylor is the first Eagle to earn the award twice in a season since Keith DeWitt in 2012-13.
  • For the season.Senior guard Jeril Taylor leads the team through 11 games with 19.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Alex Stein follows with 18.8 points per outing, while junior forward Julius Rajala is follows with 5.3 rebounds per appearance.
  • USI at home.Sophomore guard Alex Stein has been the Eagles’ leader at home this year, posting 19.7 points per game, while senior guard Jeril Taylor is averaging a double-double, 17.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest.
  • Dishing assists.Junior guard Marcellous Washington has tied a season-high the last two games, dishing eight assists per game versus Martin Methodist and Kentucky State.
  • USi vs. Bluefield State.USI and Bluefield State will be playing for the first time in the history of the programs on January 2.
  • USI vs. William Jewell.USI leads the all-time series with William Jewell College, 4-0, since the Cardinals joined the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2011-12.The Eagles won the only meeting at the PAC, 86-48, in 2014-15.
  • USI vs. Rockhurst.USI leads the all-time series with Rockhurst University, 16-1, and has won the last 13 straight versus the Hawks. The Eagles also are 7-0 versus the Hawks at the PAC.
  • USI in the GLVC. The Eagles started GLVC action the first week of December with victories over McKendree University, 104-58, and the University of Illinois Springfield, 86-75. Sophomore guard Alex Stein led the Eagles in the first two GLVC games with 19.5 points and 5.0 assists per game.

NABC/Division II Top 25 (Div. II Official Poll) 
1. Northwest Missouri State (12)
2. Fairmont State, W.Va. (4)
3. Queens, N.C.
4. West Liberty, W.Va.
5. Bellarmine, Ky.
6. Saginaw Valley State, Mich.
7. Angelo State, Texas
8. California Baptist
9. St. Thomas Aquinas, N.Y.
10. Wheeling Jesuit, W.Va.
11. Tarleton State, Texas
12. Barry, Fla.
13. Kutztown, Pa.
14. West Texas A&M
15. San Francisco State, Calif.
16. Drury, Mo.
17. Fort Lewis, Colo.
18. Shippensburg, Pa.
19. Western Washington
20. Southern Indiana
21. Indiana, Pa.
22. Hawai’i Pacific
23. UC San Diego
24. Alabama-Huntsville
25.  Southwest Minnesota State

D2SIDA/Media Poll Top 25
1. Northwest Missouri (11)
2. Fairmont State (1)
3. Bellarmine
4. Queens
5. California Baptist
6. West Texas A&M
7. West Liberty
8. St. Thomas Aquinas
9. Angelo State
10. Barry
11. Southern Indiana
12. Saginaw Valley State
13. Shippensburg
14. San Francisco State
15. Tarleton State
16. Augustana
17. Western Washington
18. Wheeling Jesuit
19. Southwest Minnesota State
20. Limestone
21. Eckerd
22. Quincy
23. Southern New Hampshire
24. Fort Lewis
25. Minnesota State Moorhead

 

 

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