USI opens ’22-23 with visit to Missouri​​​​​​​

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball opens the 2022-23 regular season Monday when the Screaming Eagles visit the University of Missouri for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be played at Mizzou Arena (ticket information) and will air live on SEC+.
 
The game can also be heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
 
The Eagles officially begin their NCAA Division I journey after posting a 35-point win over Midway University in the squad’s only exhibition game. Sophomore Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) led the way with a team-high 18 points, while graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) and junior guard Gary Solomon (Detroit, Michigan) followed with 17 points and 16 points, respectively.
 
USI comes to Division I after posting an 18-8 overall record and 12-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. USI also won the GLVC East Division before advancing to the GLVC Tournament semifinals last year.
 
Entering the 2022-23 season, USI has been predicted to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference by the head coaches and the athletic communicators. The Eagles also were predicted to place as high as fifth in the league by Blue Ribbon Basketball Magazine.
 
USI Head Coach Stan Gouard returns for his third season at the helm of the Eagles. Gouard, who is one of 49 NCAA I head coaches directing their alma mater, has compiled a 30-13 record at USI and is 234-124 as a head coach.
 
The Mizzou Tigers start the 2022-23 regular season after defeating Washington University (Missouri), 89-61, Thursday evening in Columbia. Senior guard/forward Kobe Brown led the way in the exhibition win with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Mizzou is coming off a 12-21 overall and 5-13 Southeastern Conference mark in 2021-22. Brown also was the Tigers’ top scorer last year with 12.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.
 
USI trails the all-time series with Missouri, 2-0, with the last meeting coming in 1992-93 when the Eagles lost to the Tigers, 77-62, during former Head Coach Bruce Pearl’s first year at the helm. The Eagles also were grounded by the Tigers in the first meeting the two programs, 82-
75, in 1985-86.
 
Following the quick trip to Columbia, the Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of Screaming Eagles Arena for the home opener November 13 when they host Southern Illinois University for a 3 p.m. contest.