Polakovich, Swope earn NABC awards

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) were selected as second team All-District 18 by the National Basketball Coaches Association. Polakovich and Swope were named to the All-District 18 squad after being selected first team All-Ohio Valley Conference by the conference head coaches and the communications directors.
 
The post-season district honor is the second for Polakovich, who was named second team NABC All-District last year and the first for Swope.
 
Polakovich, who is among the NCAA Division I leaders in total rebounds (391), leads the Screaming Eagles and OVC with 13.0 rebounds per games. He also is averaging a double-double with 12.4 points per contest.
 
The senior forward has had 14 double-doubles, five games of 20-or-more rebounds, and 20 double-figure rebound contests. The three-time OVC Player of the Week had a season-best 27 points and 26 rebounds in his OVC-debut versus Southeast Missouri State University.
 
Swope earns his first-team honor after averaging a team-high 15.6 points per game, while dishing a team-high 3.6 assists and grabbing 2.4 rebounds per contest. The sophomore guard has reached double-digits in scoring in 24 of his 32 games this season and has averaged 20.9 points per game over the last nine games, including a 27-point performance versus Southeast Missouri State University.
 
Polakovich, Swope, and the Eagles (16-16) finish the 2022-23 campaign in the College Basketball Invitational March 18-22 Daytona Beach, Florida. USI, the 15th seed, is slated to play second-seeded San Jose State University in the opening round of the tournament.