The University of Southern Indiana Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the selection of the 2019 USI Athletic Hall of Fame class that will be inducted during homecoming week in February. The class of seven individuals was selected by a nine-member USI Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. Any Screaming Eagles fan was eligible to nominate student athletes or teams on the 10th anniversary of their last season of competition, or a coach/administrator who has been separated from the Department of Athletics for two years. Special individuals (e.g., Varsity Club members) also were eligible for nominations as well. This year’s class includes Laura Ellerbusch Schnur ’07 (Volleyball, 2002-05); Kristen Eickholt Lichtensteiger ’08 (Softball, 2005-08); Dennis Humphrey ’92 (Baseball, 1990-91; Men’s Basketball 1987-90); Paul Jellema ’07 (Men’s Cross Country/Track, 2005-08); Matt Keener ’05 M’12 (Baseball, 2003-06); Greg Orr ’95 (Baseball, 1991-94); and Tom Rehl ’87 (Men’s Cross Country/Track 1982-86). “I continue to be amazed by the amount of outstanding student-athletes and teams this University has had,” said USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall. “The Class of 2019 truly represents our growing tradition here at USI. The seven individuals that will be honored in February are truly worthy of this extraordinary honor. I know that the entire USI community is proud of this class and what it accomplished while at USI.” In addition to the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2019, USI is inducting Marvin Smith and Jim Will, Sr., into the Athletic Hall of Distinction for contributions to the success of the University’s varsity programs. Reservations for the February 2 induction ceremony must be made in advance and can be made by calling (812) 465-1022 or emailing Mandi Fulton at mfulton@usi.edu. 2019 USI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS Laura Ellerbusch Schnur ’07 (Volleyball, 2002-05): Schnur was a 2004 AVCA All-American, a four-time All-Region, and three-time All-GLVC performer during her four seasons. She also was a AVCA National Player of the Week and Academic All-District. Schnur remains ranked first in hitting percentage, seventh in total blocks and block assists, and eighth in kills all-time at USI. Kristen Eickholt Lichtensteiger ’08 (Softball, 2005-08): Lichtensteiger graduated cum laude after being a four-year starter at third base. She ranks number one all-time in doubles (including the single-season record) and remains ranked ninth all-time in hits and runs; sixth in home runs; and tied for third in RBIs. The three-time All-GLVC and two-time All-Region player also earned a pair of Academic All-District honors. Dennis Humphrey ’92 (Baseball, 1990-91; Men’s Basketball 1987-90): Humphrey was a two-sport player for USI (basketball and baseball), earning preseason All-American honors for baseball in 1991. He finished his baseball career ranked eighth all-time in batting average and held the all-time record for home runs until 2018. Humphrey also is second in shutouts and ranks 14th all-time in ERA. In basketball, he is 32nd all-time in scoring and 13th in rebounding. Paul Jellema ’07 (Men’s Cross Country/Track, 2005-08): Jellema was one of USI’s top competitors between 2005 and 2008, earning four-All-American awards (two in cross country, one in indoor track, and one in outdoor track. He also was the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Outdoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year in 2007. He also earned five All-GLVC honors, while winning three individual GLVC titles and one GLVC relay championship. Matt Keener ’05 M’12 (Baseball, 2003-06): Keener was a two-time first-team Academic All-American (USI’s first two-time first-team performer) and four-time Academic All-GLVC student athlete. He also was a three-time All-GLVC performer as a pitcher, outfielder, and infielder. Keener ranks ninth all-time in slugging percentage; 14th in total bases; 14th in RBIs; tied for 13th in home runs; 23rd in hits; tied for 22nd in runs scored. He also had a 3-3 mark and a 3.88 ERA in 34 games on the mound. Greg Orr ’95 (Baseball, 1991-94): Orr was one of USI’s most consistent right-handed pitchers to ever play for the Eagles. He was a first-team All-GLVC performer in 1994 and was named a Player to Watch by Collegiate Baseball in 1994. He finished his career as USI’s all-time winningest pitcher and remains ranked third all-time. Orr also ranked second in complete games and fifth in strikeouts and innings pitched. He was a member of USI’s first back-to-back 40 win teams and appeared in three NCAA II Tournaments with the Eagles and also was a part of the staff that won the GLVC title in 1993. Tom Rehl ’87 (Men’s Cross Country/Track 1982-86): Rehl was a member of the cross country and track teams from 1982 to 1986 teams. He was a top-10 runner in the GLVC, finishing second in 1984 and 1985, while earning All-America honors after finishing 25th at the 1985 NCAA II National Championships. He continues to hold USI marks in the 1,000 yards, Mile, and 1500m.

UE defeats Green Bay, 80-75

A career game by K.J. Riley saw him score 24 points to lead the University of Evansville men’s basketball team to an 80-75 victory over Green Bay on Saturday evening at the Ford Center.

Riley was 6-of-14 from the floor and knocked down 12 of his 14 free throws.  His 24 points was a career-high. Riley added 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Always the team player, Riley was not concerned with his career-high, he was just happy for the win against a team that will give UE (6-6) valuable experience heading into the Missouri Valley Conference portion of the schedule.

“They get up and down, it was a game like that will really get us ready for conference play.  It was a really good test for us,” Riley said. “We never get down as a team, we always pick each other up. We are a close knit group and play through adversity.”

Marty Hill, who scored 12 points, is excited about how this win will help their confidence heading into Christmas break and the MVC.

“This game will do a lot for our confidence.  It was another close one. We really stuck together and talked to each other and really came together today,” he said.  “I think we are in a good spot right now, we know how to play when we are down and facing adversity and know how to play when we are up.”

Green Bay (6-7) entered the game as one of the top ten squads in the nation when it came to pace of play.  McCarty and his squad always look to do the same thing in their offensive possessions and did a nice job of being prepared for what the Phoenix were going to do.

“It was a fast-paced game.  They put immense pressure on you.  I thought our guys were able to handle it well,” McCarty explained after the game.  “They get up there on defense and try to get you to turn it over. In the first half, they got most of their points off turnovers, we were able to get that corrected in the second half and were able to pull out to the lead.”

The Phoenix were led by Kameron Hankerson, who posted 18 points.  Sandy Cohen III scored 16.

Ten lead changes took place in a competitive first half with the Phoenix going to the break up 37-35.  After Green Bay hit a three to open the scoring, Marty Hill scored the next five to give UE its first lead of the day at 5-3.  The Phoenix went back up by a 10-9 score before a Dainius Chatkevicius free throw and a Noah Frederking three put Evansville back on top at 13-10.

Seconds after Frederking’s shot, Green Bay tied it back up with a triple. With the score tied at 22 with 6:21 remaining in the half, UE took its largest lead of four point thanks to buckets by Frederking and Hill.  The Phoenix would turn the tables, opening up a 4-point lead of their own, taking a 37-33 advantage with 40 seconds left. Evan Kuhlman connected on his first shot of the day to wrap up the first-half scoring and get UE within two at the break.  Hill led the Aces with 7 opening-half tallies.

Evan Kuhlman helped the Aces start the second half on an 8-0 stretch.  He hit back-to-back triples to help UE take a 43-37 lead. Riley added a layup in the run.  After Green Bay cut the deficit to a pair, UE made another rally. Up 45-43, Evansville went on an 11-2 run to take its largest advantage of the game – 56-45.  Four UE players scored in the run that was capped off by a Chatkevicius dunk inside of the 12-minute mark.

Green Bay slowly made its way back.  Trailing 65-57 with 7:38 on the clock, the Phoenix got within four at 69-65 less than two minutes later.  Three free throws by Sandy Cohen III saw Green Bay cut their deficit to three – 74-71 – with just over three minutes before a JayQuan McCloud triple made their comeback complete as he tied the game at 74-74.

Just as he did all day – K.J. Riley put the team on his back.  Following a timeout, he gave Evansville the lead for good with two more free throws.  A free throw by Cohen cut UE’s lead to one before Riley hit a layup with 21 seconds remaining to put Evansville up 78-75.  A Phoenix miss gave UE the ball with 11 seconds remaining as Noah Frederking put the icing on the cake with two more from the charity stripe that gave Evansville the 80-75 triumph.

Protecting the lead is something that proved to be crucial as the clock ran out.  Coach McCarty emphasized that with his squad.

“We took more time off the clock tonight, I tried to explain to the guys that we are trying to protect the lead, we need to make the other team work more,” he said.  “I think our guys are doing a great job. Our defense is also coming along. Those guys are really locking down and helping each other out. We still have so much more room for improvement, which makes things even more exciting.”

That defense for Evansville held Green Bay to 40.3% shooting on the night.  UE also held them to just 2-for-10 to open up the second half.

UE finished with a 40-38 rebounding edge with John Hall tallying nine caroms.  Riley added seven. Riley and Hill were the double-digit scorers. Behind them, Frederking and Chatkevicius posted nine.

The Aces have off for the Christmas holiday before returning to action on Sunday, December 30 with a noon CT game at Miami Ohio.