USI runs out of time in falling to SEMO, 79-74
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball concluded a three-game homestand with a heartbreaking 79-74 Homecoming loss to Southeast Missouri State University Saturday evening at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles are 9-15 overall and 4-10 in OVC action, while the Redhawks go to 15-10, 10-4 OVC.
USI spotted SEMO a 5-0 lead before going to work on the offensive end with a 15-4 run to lead with 13:57 remaining in the opening half, 15-9. Junior guards Jayland Randall and Damoni Harrison propelled the run by combining for 10 of the 15 points with six points and four points, respectively.
The Redhawks responded with an 8-2 run of their own to close the gap within two minutes and even the score at 17-17. The score would bounce back and forth for the next four minutes before SEMO took a three-point advantage, 24-21, at the under-eight time out.
USI would rally and regain the lead, 29-27, with 3:55 on the clock when sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi threw down a thunderous dunk. SEMO tied the score for the third time, 29-29, but it was short-lived as Harrison gave USI a three-point lead, 32-29, with a long-range bomb from the right corner.
The Harrison three-pointer would spark USI’s run to the break and halftime lead, 36-35. Harrison led the Eagles with 13 points, while Randall and Olowoniyi had 10 points each.
In the second half, the margin between the two teams never grew to more than six points (USI 49-43), while the half featured five ties and 13 lead changes. The outcome would come down to the final two minutes when SEMO scored five of the final nine points for the 79-74 decision.
In the scoring column, Harrison led three Eagles in double-digits with 25 points. He was nine-of-13 from the field, three-of-four from long range, and four-of-six from the stripe.
Randall followed with 23 points on seven-of-16 from the field, three-of-six from beyond the arc, and six-of-seven from the stripe. The 23 points were one short of a career-best for Randall.
Olowoniyi rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points on seven-of-11 from the field and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. The double-double was Olowoniyi’s team-best fourth of the season.
Next Up For USI:
USI hits the road next week with visits to Western Illinois University Thursday and Lindenwood University February 15. Game time is 7:30 p.m. versus WIU in Macomb, Illinois, and 2 p.m. versus Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
The start time for the USI-Lindenwood men’s basketball game has been moved to 2 p.m. after the women’s game was moved to 11 a.m. due to being on ESPNU.
WIU is 8-17 overall and 2-12 in the OVC, after today’s 80-71 loss at the University of Tennessee at Martin and is on a 10-game losing streak that included a loss at USI in January. WIU has not won since January 9.
WIU leads the all-time series, 5-2, after USI won at Liberty Arena in January, 78-66. Harrison led four Eagles in double digits with 26 points. Graduate forward Jack Mielke followed with 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Randall and Olowniyi rounded out the top four with 12 points and 11 points, respectively.
The Lions of Lindenwood are 11-14 overall and 6-8 in the OVC after finishing the weekend with an 84-76 loss at Tennessee State University. Lindenwood, which hosts Morehead State University Thursday before the showdown with USI, is 2-3 in the last five games, .500 over the last 10 contests.
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 8-1, after taking the first meeting of the year in January, 80-73. Harrison led three Eagles in double-digits with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Harrison was followed by Randall, who had 17 points, and Mielke, who had 10 points.
USI has one more regular season homestand left in 2024-25. The Eagles are slated to host Eastern Illinois University February 20 and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville February 22 for Senior Night. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. starts.
Tickets for all USI home dates are on sale now at USIScreamingEagles.com.
