​​​​​​​EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball announced the signing of 6-foot-1 guard Luther Smith, Jr. and 6-foot-2 guard Jordan Tillmon for the 2023-24 season. Smith and Tillmon are the first to sign with USI and Head Coach Stan Gouard this spring.
 
“USI is thrilled to welcome Jordan and Luther to our USI family,” said Gouard. “Both are high character guys that are expected to impact our team immediately.”
 
Smith comes to USI from Sussex Hamilton High School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) where he earned first-team All-Greater Metro Conference as a junior and senior. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native earned the All-Conference honor as a senior after averaging 27.8 points per game, including a 44-point performance versus Brookfield Central High School.
 
“Luther is a terrific shooter and someone that will allow us to have great spacing offensively,” said Gouard. “His ability to stretch the floor makes Luther a perfect fit for our style of play.”
 
Tillmon joins the Eagles after spending the 2022-23 season with Florida A&M University where he posted 10.6 points, 2.4 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per contest. The transfer guard hit for a season-high 22 points and five rebounds versus Alabama A&M University.
 
Prior to last season at Florida A&M, Tillmon was first team All-Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference during his two seasons at Connors State College. The Pine Bluff, Arkansas, native posted a two-year average of 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 56 appearances at Connors. The Cowboys also won a pair of NJCAA Region 2 championships during Tillmon’s tenure.
 
Tillmon posted a Connors two-year high of 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game as a sophomore (2021-22). 
 
“Jordan’s experience at the DI level will be very beneficial to Luther’s development in year one, while his toughness and scoring ability adds immediate value to our team”, said Gouard. “He will be called upon to lead our program on and off the court.”
 
The Eagles completed their first NCAA Division I season under Gouard by earning a trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and to the Collegiate Basketball Invitational (CBI). USI was 16-17 overall during the first Division I schedule, placing seventh in the OVC with a 9-9 conference mark.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Vincennes University Golf season ended Tuesday afternoon at the 2023 Region 24 Championships hosted at Pfau Golf Course in Bloomington.

The Blazers finished sixth as a team after facing very strong winds throughout the two-day tournament.

Vincennes was led by sophomore Luke VanDeventer (Columbus, Ind.) who overcame a slow start with an opening round 89 to shoot a team tournament low 78 in the second round Monday afternoon.

VanDeventer continued to climb the leaderboard Tuesday with a final round 80 to finish in a tie for 12th overall.

Freshman Preston Broce (Indianapolis, Ind.) and sophomore Adam Leach (North Vernon, Ind.) finished the tournament in a tie for 18th after the pair began the tournament shooting a pair of 81’s in the first round.

Leach continued this fast start with a second round 82, while Broce finished the first day of competition with a second round 88.

Broce was able to bounce back Tuesday with a final round 81 and Leach finished out his tournament shooting an 87.

Freshman Nate Olson (Greenwood, Ind.) was the fourth VU finisher, shooting an 82 and an 84 Monday before finishing the tournament Tuesday with an 88 to place 26th on the leaderboard.

VU was rounded out by sophomore Paxton Schwomeyer (Oakland City, Ind.) who battled the tough conditions to shoot and 82 and 86 Monday and ending the tournament with an 88 Tuesday.

The Trailblazers season came to an end as the top three teams, Parkland, Heartland and Illinois Central all qualified for the 2023 NJCAA Division II National Championships, while Lincoln Trail’s KaCee Fulkerson and Connor Hagan each qualified as individuals for the National Championships.

The 2023 NJCAA Division II National Championships will take place at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind. beginning on Tuesday, May 23 and running through Friday, May 26.

TEAM RESULTS

Parkland – 296, 298, 309 – 903

Heartland – 313, 318, 331 – 962

Illinois Central – 330, 324, 328 – 982

Rend Lake – 328, 327, 333 – 988

Lincoln Trail – 322, 339, 327 – 988

VINCENNES – 326, 330, 336 – 992

Danville Area – 330, 319, 343 – 992

Lewis & Clark – 337, 353, 346 – 1036

Southeastern Illinois – 392, 389, 371 – 1152

VINCENNES RESULTS

Luke VanDeventer (T12) – 89, 78, 80 – 247

Preston Broce (T18) – 81, 88, 81 – 250

Adam Leach (T18) – 81, 82, 87 – 250

Nate Olson (26) – 82, 84, 88 – 254

Paxton Schwomeyer (29) – 82, 86, 88 – 256

VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers All-Time leader in three-point makes and two-time All-Region 24 honoree Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) signed to continue her basketball career at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond Monday.

“I chose Purdue Northwest because I felt like it was the best fit for me as far as having a challenge but also being a part of a loving family who will push me and help me become a better person and player,” Newsom said.

Purdue Northwest is an NCAA Division II program and a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

Newsom has been a key member of the Lady Blazers for the last two seasons, ending her VU career with 820 points and setting a new school record with 198 three-point makes while shooting 40-percent from three in her VU career.

Newsom finished out her two years at VU in a big way, leading the Lady Blazers in scoring this past season with an average of 14.4 points per game, while also being the only Lady Blazer to start in all 32 games.

Newsom also led the Lady Blazers by averaging 4.1 assists per game, while also grabbing two rebounds and swiping a steal per game as the Lady Blazers finished the season with a record of 21-11 and reached the Region 24 Championship game.

Newsom’s best game this past season came against Rend Lake when Newsom hit a season-high six three-pointers and finished with a career-high 27 points.

Newsom broke VU’s All-Time three-point record this past February in the Lady Blazers win over John A. Logan when Newsom hit five second half threes including four in the fourth quarter alone.

“My favorite memory at VU was being able to break the three-point record and having all my teammates celebrate with me on the floor,” Newsom added. “Vincennes University has prepared me athletically and academically by challenging me but also supporting me.”

Newsom is joining a Purdue Northwest Pride squad that finished last season with an 8-21 record under Head Coach Courtney Locke.

The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Cherrelle Newsom on her signing with Purdue University Northwest and wishes her good luck as she continues her basketball career next season.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The May stretch run will begin for the University of Evansville baseball team on Wednesday night, as the Purple Aces will wrap up a five-game homestand against in-state rival Butler at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.  First-pitch is set for 6 p.m. and Wednesday’s game can be seen live on ESPN+ and heard live on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.

Evansville will bring a 25-18 overall record into Wednesday night’s game.  The Purple Aces are 2-2 on the current homestand, which began with a 9-3 win over Lipscomb last Tuesday and a 2-1 win over nationally-ranked Indiana State, before the Sycamores were able to rally to win the weekend series.  Sophomore designated hitter/catcher Evan Waggoner led UE offensively over the four games, hitting .385 last week.  Waggoner will enter this week’s action on a streak where he has hit safely in each of his last eight starts, posting a .448 batting average (13-for-29) during those eight games.  Junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse was not far behind last week, hitting .357 in the four contests, and he has hit safely in 11 of UE’s last 12 games overall with a .415 average (17-for-41), two doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI.

Butler will bring a 9-34 overall record into Wednesday’s game, after getting swept in a Big East series at Creighton over the weekend.  The Bulldogs are under the direction of first-year head coach Blake Beemer.  Freshman infielder Joey Urban leads the Butler offense this year with a .290 average, six home runs, 12 doubles and 29 RBI.

All-time, Evansville has dominated the series over Butler, holding a 50-17 edge in the series.  The Bulldogs were the first-ever team which head coach Wes Carroll got a win against, as UE beat Butler, 10-1, on February 27, 2009.  Former Aces Cody Fick and Peter Tountas had four-hit days to help Carroll earn his first victory as head coach that day at Braun Stadium.  Carroll has gone on to win 377 games in 15 seasons at UE, and ranks second all-time in school history in career coaching victories.

Senior LHP Tyler Denu (2-3, 4.73 ERA) will get the start on Wednesday night for UE.  He is expected to be opposed by Butler RHP Cade Thune (1-1, 9.88 ERA).

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following an eight-day break from game action, University of Southern Indiana Softball returned to USI Softball Field Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand to conclude the regular season. The Screaming Eagles fell 8-0 to Austin Peay State University in a midweek, non-conference contest.
 
Austin Peay jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. After the first two batters reached, Austin Peay’s leading home-run hitter, graduate Lexi Osowski-Anderson, hit a three-run home run to give the Governors a 3-0 lead.
 
With a 4-0 advantage in the fifth inning, Austin Peay tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth to double its lead. The Governors had three consecutive RBI hits, including two RBI doubles, in the frame.
 
At the plate, for USI, senior first baseman Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) hit her Ohio Valley Conference-leading 15^th double, and freshman Lavin Osborne (New Albany, Indiana) recorded her first career hit on Tuesday.
 
USI sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) was charged with the loss, moving to 14-10 this season. Newman went three innings, giving up four runs – three earned – with a strikeout. Freshman Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched the last two innings and allowed four runs.
 
The Governors’ sophomore pitcher Samantha Miener picked up the win in the shutout to move to 4-7 this season. Miener tossed all five innings with a strikeout and four hits allowed.
 
Southern Indiana dropped to 18-21 overall with Tuesday’s loss. USI heads into the final weekend of Ohio Valley Conference action with an 11-9 conference record, sitting in fourth place in the standings. With Tuesday’s victory, Austin Peay improved to 25-20 this season and heads back into conference action in the Atlantic Sun this weekend.
 
The Screaming Eagles conclude the regular season this weekend when USI hosts Tennessee Tech University Saturday and Sunday from USI Softball Field. First pitches for Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s series finale are at 12 p.m. USI Softball will be celebrating the 2023 senior class on Sunday. Admission to all 2023 USI Softball home spring games is free, courtesy of The Women’s Hospital Deaconess.