Eagles ranked 15th in media poll
GAME NOTES USI VS. QU & TSU; USI MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VIDEO REVIEW/PREVIEW
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball returns to the friendly surroundings of the Physical Activities Center this week to play the top teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division. The Screaming Eagles (12-2, 4-0 GLVC) host Quincy University, currently second in the GLVC West, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before finishing with Truman State University, first in the GLVC West, Saturday at 3:15 p.m.
Following this week’s action at the PAC, the Eagles resume play against the GLVC’s East Division, traveling to ninth-ranked Bellarmine University Monday in Louisville, Kentucky. Tip-off at Knights Hall is slated for 7 p.m. (CST). The USI-Bellarmine contest is the start of three-straight on the road for the Eagles.
Game coverage for USI Men’s Basketball games, including live stats and audio, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The Eagle games also can be heard over the air on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and WPSR 90.7FM.
The USI Varsity Club is inviting fans to watch the live video stream of the USI-Bellarmine women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader in the Varsity Club Room January 18. The women’s game is 4:45 p.m. (CST), while the men’s game is slated to follow at 7p.m. (CST).
This Week’s USI Men’s Basketball Quick Notes:Â
USI appears in for NCAA II Media Poll. USI was ranked 15th in the D2SIDA NCAA II Media Top 25, marking the first ranking of the year for the Screaming Eagles. This week’s ranking is the first time the Eagles have appeared in a top 25 poll since March of 2014.
Eagles win 7th & 8th-straight on the road. USI ran its season-best winning streak to eight-straight after GLVC-road victories over Rockhurst University and William Jewell College. Junior guard Jeril Taylor led USI with 24.0 points per game, including a 32-point game versus WJC, while senior George Edwards followed with 13.5 points per contest, including a team-best 19 points versus Rockhurst.
During the winning streak.  USI is outscoring its opponents 88.0-65.1 per game during the winning streak, compared to 90.7-87.8 in the first six games. The Eagles also are shooting 51.4 percent (253-492) from the field in the last eight contests, surpassing the 50 percent mark in six of the eight outings.
Four in double-digits to start the year.  USI has four players averaging in double-digit to start the 2015-16 campaign. Junior guard Jeril Taylor and freshman guard Alex Stein are currently on top of the USI scoring column with 17.4 and 14.3 points per game, respectively, while senior forward George Edwards is third with 13.6 points per contest and junior guard Bobo Drummond rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.6 points per outing.
Seniour leads the GLVC from long range. Senior forward Shane Seniour enters this week as the GLVC and USI leader in three-point field goal percentage. He found the touch from long range this year, hitting 14-of-24 three-point field goals (58.3 percent) after missing all three attempts last year.
At home in 2015-16. The Eagles are 7-1 at the Physical Activities Center this year and are outscoring the opposition, 92.9-75.4, and outrebounding the visitors, 41.6-31.6. Junior guard Jeril Taylor and senior forward George Edwards lead USI with 17.8 and 14.4 points per game, respectively.
USI vs. Quincy. USI leads the all-time series with Quincy University, 29-9, and has a 10-2 advantage in the games at the PAC. The Eagles took last year’s match-up 68-62 at the PAC and were led by junior guard Bobo Drummond with 18 points.
Quincy in 2015-16. The Hawks of Quincy are 10-4 through the first two months of the season, 4-1 in the GLVC, and follow USI in the points column with 85.8 points per contest. Quincy, which is second in the GLVC West Division, has won its last five games and 10 of the last 11 after going 0-3 to start the year. More on Quincy can be found at QUHawks.com.
USI vs. Truman State. USI leads the all-time series with Truman State University, 2-1, after posting an 81-70 victory at the PAC last year. The Eagles were led in the first meeting at the PAC by junior guardBobo Drummond with 23 points.
Truman State in 2015-16. The Bulldogs of Truman State, who visit Bellarmine Thursday before visiting USI, are 12-3 overall this year, 4-1 in the GLVC, and have won their last eight games. Truman State, who is first in the GLVC West Division, is third in the in GLVC scoring and fourth in defense. More on Truman State can be found at TrumanBulldogs.com.
USI vs. Bellarmine. USI leads the all-time series with Bellarmine, 49-36, and has an 8-6 advantage in the games at Knights Hall since 2000. The Eagles lost both meeting with the Knights last year, falling 83-70 at the PAC and 67-54 in Knights Hall.
Bellarmine in 2015-16. The ninth-ranked Knights of Bellarmine, who host Truman State Thursday and Quincy on Saturday before welcoming the Eagles, are 11-2 overall, 4-0 in the GLVC. Bellarmine enters the week with an eight-game winning streak and is the defending NCAA II Midwest Region champion. The Knights advanced to the NCAA II semifinals last spring at the Fords Center in Evansville. More on Bellarmine can be found at Athletics.Bellarmine.edu.
D2SIDA NCAA II Media Top 25 Â
 Team (1st place votes)
1. West Liberty (12)
2. Midwestern State (2)
3. Augustana (S.D.)
4. Western Oregon
5. Bellarmine
6. Eckerd
7. Lincoln Memorial
MSU-Moorhead
9. Cal Poly Pomona
10. Tarleton State
11. Fairmont State
12. Saint Anselm (N.H.)
13. UC San Diego
14. Queens
15. Southern Indiana
16. Wheeling Jesuit
17. Texas A&M-Commerce
18. Delta State
19. Lake Superior State
20. Columbus State
21. Cal Baptist
22. Ashland
23. Barry
24. Minnesota Duluth
25. Angelo State
Others receiving votes:Â Â St. Edward’s, Holy Family, Indianapolis, Alabama-Huntsville, Minnesota State, Wisconsin-Parkside, University of Mary, Chico State, Lenoir-Rhyne, Seattle Pacific, Humboldt State, Southern Conn. State
