EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball concludes its longest homestand of the season by hosting Western Illinois University Thursday at 8 p.m. in Screaming Eagles Arena. The game will air live on ESPNU (Astound 368; Dish 141; DirectTV 206).
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To showcase USI’s #ScreaglePride, a White Out Night will be held for both ends of Thursday’s OVC doubleheader, leading off with USI Women’s Basketball (also against Western Illinois) at 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear white apparel to whiteout Screaming Eagles Arena!
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Fans also can track your Eagles all season by visiting the schedule on USIScreamingEagles.com for links to follow all of the action on the ESPN+, ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com), and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com/).
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USI (5-15, 2-5 OVC) has lost its last four games, including last week’s losses to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 77-75, and Morehead State University, 81-70. Junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) led the way for the USI with 29.0 points per game in the two losses.
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Junior forward Jack Mielke (Downers Grove, Illinois) followed last week with 12.5 points per game.
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Hernandez leads the team through 20 games with 16.3 points per game, which ranks sixth overall in the OVC. Junior guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) follows with 12.7 points and a team-best 9.1 rebounds per outing, while posting a team-high eight double-doubles.
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WIU (12-7, 5-1 OVC) suffered its first loss in OVC play, falling to Tennessee State University, 58-57, at home Saturday. The Leathernecks saw its nine-game winning streak snapped, but they have won 10 of the last 12 games dating back to December.
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WIU leads the all-time series with USI, 3-1, after defeating the Screaming Eagles last season, 86-78, in Macomb, Illinois. The first three meetings between USI and WIU date back to a pair of games in 1977 and one in 1981 (NCAA Division II Regional contest).
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