USI Announces ’16-17 Men’s Basketball Schedule

Eagles Will Play An Exhibition Game At Purdue

2016-17 MBB SCHEDULE RELEASE (.pdf); COMPLETE 2016-17 SCHEDULE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team announces the exciting, action packed 2016-17 schedule that includes 28-regular season games and begins at Purdue University for an exhibition game on November 1.

“This is a great opportunity to play a Big-Ten team with such great tradition,” said USI Head Coach Rodney Watson. “We also are grateful for this chance to play in Mackey Arena where renovations have been completed since the Eagles last played an exhibition game there.”

USI begins the regular season on the road for the second-straight season when the Screaming Eagles travel up the road to Indianapolis, Indiana, to play in the GLVC/GLIAC Challenge November 12-13. USI is slated to face Lake Erie College and Ashland University in the two-day event.

The GLVC/GLIAC Challenge starts a six-game slate away from the Physical Activities Center to start the season. Following the challenge, the Eagles return to Evansville for the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic November 18-19 at the Ford Center. USI will play Florida Southern College, which won the 2015 NCAA Division II national championship at the Ford Center, and Kentucky Wesleyan College, the Eagles long-time rival and former GLVC member.

The final third of the six-game road slate begin the 2016-17 GLVC campaign by traveling to McKendree University (December 1) and the University of Illinois Springfield (December 3).

Eagle fans will get their first view of the 2016-17 USI squad December 10-11 when Ohio Valley University (December 10) and Lees-McRae College (December 11) in the shortened Bill Joergens Memorial Classic.

USI stays at the PAC to play Bluefield College (December 14) before going on the road to play in the Louisville Airport East Classic that is hosted by Bellarmine University.

After a home game with Bluefield State University on January 2 to start the 2017 calendar, USI resumes GLVC action by hosting William Jewell College (January 5) and Rockhurst University (January 7). The home conference schedule for the Eagles also includes Bellarmine (January 16); the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (January 19); Lewis University (January 21); Missouri University of Science & Technology (February 2); Drury University (February 4; Homecoming); Illinois Springfield (February 16); and McKendree University (February 18; Senior Day).

The remainder of the GLVC road slate includes visits to Truman State University (January 12); Quincy University (January 14); Saint Joseph’s College (January 26); University of Indianapolis (January 28); University of Missouri-St. Louis (February 9); Maryville University (February 11); and Bellarmine University (February 23).

“The GLVC regular season will be as strong of a test for us as it is every year,” said Watson. “The conference has produced our region’s representative in the NCAA II Elite Eight each of the last six seasons and we need to join that group.”

The GLVC Tournament is slated to begin February 26 at campus sites before returning to the Ford Center in Evansville for the first time since 2014 for the final three rounds March 2-5. The NCAA II Midwest Regional is set for March 11-14, while the NCAA II Elite Eight moves to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, March 22-25.

Schedule Notes:

• USI has won 20-or-more games in 20 of the last 24 seasons and has reached 25-or-more wins six of the last 15 years.
• USI has a record of 158-49 (.763) and won a pair of GLVC championships under the direction of Head CoachRodney Watson since 2009-10.
• USI has six teams on the schedule that appeared in the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament (Ashland University, Bellarmine University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, University of Indianapolis, Lewis University, and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside).
• A total of 18 teams on the schedule were in their respective conference tournaments.
• The schedule includes 11 teams with winning records.
• USI’s all-time record against teams on the schedule is 454-229 (.665).
• The Eagles have opened the last 30 seasons with a victory.
• The Eagles have won each of the last 32 home openers.
• USI has a home record of 506-86 (.855) since moving into the PAC in 1980-81.
• Ticket prices for 2016-17: Season Chairbacks – $140.00; Season Bench – $85.00.
  (Ticket prices now include a GLVC Tournament first round game(s) at the PAC, if necessary)