Henry leads 2nd-half charge in Eagles’ win USI sweeps home stand with 72-65 victory

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball sophomore guard Tyler Henry (Brooklyn, New York) led a second half Screaming Eagles’ charge to a victory over Missouri University of Science & Technology, 72-65, Saturday afternoon at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI goes to 16-6 overall and 11-5 in the GLVC, while Missouri S&T is 10-15 overall, 6-12 in the league.
 
The Eagles and Miners went back-and-forth in the first half with eight lead changes. USI tried to break away with five minutes to play in the first half, posting its largest lead of the half, 31-25, before Missouri S&T surged with a 12-2 run to take a 37-33 lead in to the break.
 
USI started the second half with a 20-8 rally to regain the lead, 53-48, after Missouri S&T had extend its lead to seven points in the opening minutes of the final half. Henry led the charge with 11 of the 20-point rush as the Eagles hit eight-of-14 from the field as a team during the run.
 
The lead would expand to nine points, 67-58, with 3:13 to play in the contest when junior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) scored off of one of his career-high tying and game-high 19 rebounds. The Miners closed the gap to four points, 67-63, before junior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) notched five of his 15 points in the final 30 seconds to seal the 72-65 victory.
 
Henry would lead all USI scorers with a USI career-high tying 24 points, scoring 17 points in the second half, and posting his first career double-double with 11 rebounds. The sophomore was nine-of-18 from the field, including a pair from long range, and four-of-five from the stripe in 38 minutes of action.
 
COMING UP FOR USI:
USI finishes the 2021-22 regular season with a split away home schedule. The Eagles starts the week with a visit to the University of Missouri-St. Louis Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. tip and hosts Lindenwood University for Senior Day February 26 at 3:15 p.m.
 
UMSL moved to 18-6 overall and 12-5 in the GLVC after posting a 92-75 win over Lindenwood this afternoon at home. The Tritons, second in the GLVC Central Division, have been on a roll the last three week, winning four-straight and seven of the last nine games.  
 
USI holds a 39-14 all-time series lead over UMSL, 32-4 in GLVC action. The Eagles and the Tritons did not play last season due to COVID. UMSL has had USI’s number the last five games, taking three of five and two of three in 2019-20.
 
Lindenwood is 11-14 overall and 7-10 in the GLVC after its matchup with UMSL. The Lions, who host the University of Indianapolis Thursday before traveling to USI, have lost five of the last seven, including a loss to the Eagles, 70-56, at home.
 
USI sophomore guard Tyler Henry and junior guard Jelani Simmons  paced the Eagles with 18 points and 17 points, respectively, in the January win at Lindenwood. Junior forward Jacob Polakovich also had a big game in the victory with a double-double of 12 points and 19 rebounds.