The men’s basketball team faced Salem International University Tuesday night in a game that ended with a 26 point victory for the Screaming Eagles.
USI out-shot Salem International 56.7 percent to 40.3 percent from field goal range and 47.4 percent to 29.2 percent from three-point range.
The Eagles came out to a strong start in the first half off of a three-point shot from senior guard Gavin Schumann.
Schumann led the Eagles with 30 points, which was just three shy of his career high of 33. He was 11-13 from the field and 4-5 from three-point range.
Head Coach Rodney Watson said he was impressed with the game that Schumann brought onto the court.
“Gavin was in what we call a ‘good place’ tonight,” Watson said. “He had such a good rhythm. He got his first three down and that just seems like it really ignited him to be real comfortable on the floor.”
Watson said Schumann was great at sharing the ball throughout the game.
“He played a terrific game,” Watson said.
One portion of the game that was a little off kilter was the rhythm for junior forward Shane Seniour. He went into half time with no points on the board due to what he called “off the court distractions.”
“Shane was taking a final at 6 p.m. He had a final presentation on a paper for one of his classes and I wasn’t even sure he was going to make it for game time,” Watson said.
Despite coming out for a little while in the beginning and displaying what Coach Watson referred to as “finals brain,” Seniour gave the team a lift on defense.
“He was outstanding on defense. I can’t praise Shane enough for the way he was moving, guarding people and taking away the drive and the help,” Watson said.
The Eagles had a strong night from the free throw line. It was 20-25 for the night to give them a free throw percentage of 80.
Sophomore guard Bobo Drummond and Watson both thought that the free throws were a very important part of the game.
“Routinely, the team that wins the free throw battle wins the game. So it was good for us to win that battle; it helped us out,” Drummond said.
It was the last game for the team until after winter break.
“It’s hard. Our guys are ready to go home. They miss home,” Watson said.
The team will finish out this week with practices before they head home for a week.
“Once we get back on Dec. 29, we will full throttle right into conference play,” Watson said.
Drummond also said conference play was next on the players’ minds after seeing their families for the holidays.
“First we are going home to see our families. Then we are going to come back and focus up for conference,” Drummond said. “Conference is so important that you have to be focused. If you aren’t focused for conference you might as well not even be playing.”
The team will meet its first GLVC opponent in its first game back at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2, in the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles will host William Jewell College, which is currently 4-5 for the season.
