University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball gave top-ranked Bellarmine University everything it had, but lost 92-80 Saturday evening at the Physical Activities Center. The Screaming Eagles go to 4-2 overall and 0-1 to open GLVC play, while Bellarmine goes to 6-0, 1-0 GLVC.
USI found itself down, 46-34, at halftime after Bellarmine was lights out from the field during the first 20 minutes. The Knights were 75 percent from the field (15-20) and 80 percent from beyond the arc (8-10).
The Eagles had the early lead, 5-1, before two minutes were gone in the game. The Knights’ offense came to life, using small runs to build a 12-point lead, 42-30, with 2:31 left before halftime and led by 12 at the intermission.
USI senior guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) provided a bulk of the offense during the opening half with 10 points on three-of-six from the field and four-of-six from the line.
In the second half, Bellarmine extended its lead to as many as 15 points, 50-35, with 17:56 to play before USI came to life to challenge the number one ranked team. The Eagles outscored the Knights, 39-26, over the next 14 minutes to tie the score, 74-74, with 3:17 remaining.
USI sophomore forward Josh Price (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Stein led the Eagles during the run with 12 points each. The Eagles also shot 66.7 percent from the field during the run (14-21), 62.5 percent from downtown (5-8).
Stein would give the Eagles their only second half lead, 79-78, on a three-point bomb from the left corner with 1:56. The Knights, however, rallied back and went on a 14-1 run to close out the 92-80 game. Bellarmine, which shot 72.5 percent from the field for the game (29-40) and 80 percent from downtown (10-15), was 10-of-13 from the line in the final two minutes to close out the contest.
As a team, the Eagles shot 49.1 percent from the field (28-57) and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc (9-23) in the contest. USI’s defense also forced 21 Bellarmine turnovers in the game.
Stein led three Eagles in double-digits with 25 points, hitting eight-of-15 from the field, three-of-six from long range, and six-of-eight from the line. He also had a team-high six rebounds.
Price followed with a season-high 22 points on eight-of-14 from the field and six-of-nine from the foul line, while senior guard/forward Nate Hansen (Evansville, Indiana) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points. Sophomore guard Mateo Rivera (Indianapolis, Indiana) had a game-high and career-high seven assists in the loss.
The Eagles are idle for the next 15 days before completing the three-game homestand versus Midway University December 16. Game coverage information can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.
