EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball lost a heart-breaker in a wild overtime game to Morehead State University, 71-66, Saturday afternoon in front of a Screaming Eagles Arena record crowd of 3,644 on Homecoming. The Eagles go to 13-12 overall and 6-6 in the OVC, while the MSU Eagles are 16-9, 9-3 OVC.
USI found itself is down by six, 35-29, at the end of the first 20 minutes. The six-point Morehead margin at the break was the largest by either team in the half that featured nine lead changes and two ties.
The second half did not start off in favor of the Screaming Eagles as the MSU Eagles extended the halftime margin to 11 points, 40-29, with 17:47 left. USI erased the deficit the with an 18-6 run to regain the lead, 47-46, on a hook shot by senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) with 9:29 on the clock.
The USI run would extend to 23-6 over a 10 minute span and expanded the Screaming Eagles’ lead to six points, 52-46. USI was a blistering 10-of-14 from the field and three-of-four from downtown and was led by graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) with eight of the 23 points.
USI would maintain the six-point advantage for several minutes before Morehead State used a 6-0 run to tie the game, 54-54 with 1:50 to play. The MSU Eagles regained the lead and led 59-56 when freshman guard Jack Campion (Milton, Wisconsin) hit a three from the right side with no time on the clock to send the game into overtime, 59-59.
In the overtime, USI and Morehead State traded buckets until the MSU Eagles took the lead for good on a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left, 67-66. Morehead State would add four free throws on a foul and a USI bench technical to close out the 71-66 final. USI’s final lead of the game came at 66-65 on a three-point bomb by senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio).
Individually for the Screaming Eagles, USI was led by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) with 21 points. Swope was nine-of-17 from the field, one-of-four from beyond the arc, and two-of-two from the field.
Lakes rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Eagles with 16 points. The graduate forward was six-of-13 from the field and four-of-10 from long range.
Next Up For USI:
USI returns to the road next week for a quick trip to play Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. and will air live on ESPNU.
The game also will be streamed on ESPN+ (with cable subscription) in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.
TTU watched its season go to 11-14 overall and 7-5 in the OVC after defeating Southeast Missouri State University, 82-80, this afternoon at home. The Golden Eagles were led by graduate forward Jaylen Sebree with 22 points.
Thursday match-up between USI and TTU will be the first meeting between the two programs in men’s basketball.
Following the quick trip to TTU, the Eagles come home February 11 and will host Lindenwood University for Senior Day. Tipoff is tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m.
