EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball begins the second half of its road swing Tuesday with a visit to Ohio Valley Conference front running Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT).
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The Screaming Eagles’ road swing comes to a conclusion Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with a trip to Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.
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Fans 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 (7-20, 4-10 OVC) are 0-2 in the first half of the road trip, falling at the University of Tennessee at Martin, 77-68, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 82-68, last week. USI sophomore guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) led the Eagles with 21.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last week. Junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) followed with 17.0 points per outing.
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For the season, Hernandez leads USI with 16.6 points per game this season, 20.4 points per contest in the OVC. Smith follows Hernandez with 13.6 points and a team-best 9.1 rebounds per outing, while posting a team-high 11 double-doubles.
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USI has four games remaining in the 2023-24 regular season, three in February and one in March. The Eagles, currently eighth in the OVC, have two on the road and at home in the final two weeks as they fight for a spot in the league’s post-season tournament at the Ford Center March 6-9.
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The MSU Eagles (20-7, 11-3 OVC) holds a slim one-game lead in the OVC after stumbling twice last week. MSU, despite losing two-straight, has won seven of its last nine games.
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The MSU Eagles got the better of the USI Screaming Eagles in January, winning 81-70 at Screaming Eagles Arena. Hernandez led USI with 30 points in the loss. MSU also leads the all-time series with USI, 3-0.
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The Leathernecks of WIU (17-10, 10-4 in the OVC), who stayed in the race for the OVC regular season title after posting a pair of wins last week, are hosting MSU Thursday before welcoming the Screaming Eagles. WIU has won three of its last five games after Saturday.
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WIU took the first meeting of the season with USI, 73-68, at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI had three players in double-digits, led by the 26 points from Hernandez. The Leathernecks lead the series with USI, 4-1.
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Following the conclusion of the four-game road swing, the Eagles finish the 2023-24 regular season by hosting Lindenwood University February 29 and Southeast Missouri State University March 2 at Screaming Eagles Arena.
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Tickets for the final homestand of the season are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the USI Ticket Office on-line. For more information, call the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1189.
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