EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 15th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team soared to a 69-55 upset of the fifth-ranked University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. USI rises to 12-2 overall and 5-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while UIndy goes to 12-2 overall, 4-2 GLVC.
The victory gives USI a sweep of the two-game homestand and moves the Screaming Eagles to a perfect 10-0 at the PAC this season.
The Eagles hit the first bucket of the game and never trailed in the contest after a trio of ties in the first five minutes. USI used a 9-2 run to separate itself from UIndy and led 15-8 with 11:59 left before halftime.
UIndy cut the lead to four points twice before USI went on a second 9-2 run to post its largest lead of the half, 33-22, with 2:49 remaining in the first half. The Eagles and the Greyhound traded a pair of baskets as the clock ticked down in the opening half before USI took a 35-27 lead into the intermission.
The USI defense took over to begin the second half, holding UIndy scoreless for 4:30 and propelling the Eagles to their largest lead of the game, 15 points, 42-27. The Eagles saw the 15 point leading shrink to eight points four times before ending the game with a 69-55 victory.
Overall, USI made the most of its opportunities, shooting 41.2 percent from the field (21-51) and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe (21-27). The Eagles also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Greyhounds, 45-32.
Individually, USI was led by the team-high, 19-point effort of junior forward Orlando Rutledge (Louisville, Kentucky). Rutledge was followed by junior forward Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois), senior guard Kenyon Smith (Chicago, Illinois), and junior forward Taylor Wischmeier (Brownstown, Indiana) with 10 points each.
Nelson recorded his second-straight double-double and his fourth of the season by grabbing 10 defensive boards. Smith followed with a season-high eight rebounds, tying with senior center Keith DeWitt (High Point, North Carolina) for second on the team.
The Eagles start a three-game road swing at 7:30 p.m. Monday when they travel to play fourth-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. Monday’s Eagles-Panthers match-up will be the final GLVC meeting between the two programs in the Owensboro Sportscenter.
KWC raised its record to 14-0 overall and 6-0 in the GLVC after defeating Saint Joseph’s College, 92-58, this afternoon.
Following USI’s trip to Owensboro, the Eagles travel to the northern part of the GLVC to play the University of Wisconsin-Parkside January 24 in Somers, Wisconsin, and Lewis University January 26 in Romeoville, Illinois. Game time at UW-Parkside is 7:30 p.m., while tip-off at Lewis is slated for 3 p.m.
Source: GoUSIEagles.com
