Looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, The University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team hosted senior night for their final home game of the season against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Senior forwards Jake Mielke and Nick Hittle, along with senior guard Sam Mervis were celebrated at tonight’s game. The Cougars looked for a win tonight to tie Southeast Missouri State for first in the OVC and advance to a three-game winning streak.
USI found momentum off early, starting things off with a 7-2 lead in the early minutes of play. However, six minutes in, Southern Indiana found themselves with only a one-point advantage 14-13. The Cougars took over for a brief period of time. With eight minutes left, they earned their first lead of the half after Brian Taylor II, junior guard, sank a three-pointer, making the score 26-25.
Seventeen seconds later, USI’s Braxton Jones, junior guard, responded with a three of his own. Jones was one of five Screagles to score in the double digits in tonight’s matchup. USI would maintain their lead the rest of the first half, even going on a six-point run, giving them a double-digit lead with four minutes to go. Jack Campion, junior guard, put up two in the paint with seconds remaining putting USI up 46-33.
Returning from halftime with their biggest lead so far, Southern Indiana kept up the energy. USI’s Stephen Olowoniyi, sophomore forward, gave the Eagles their first four points of the second half. That fifteen-point lead was cut to five with under ten minutes remaining, but that is the closest the Cougars would get to reclaiming the lead. Stephen, however struggled to stay on the floor, as he was in foul trouble all night and fouled out in a critical point in the second half.
The junior guard tandem, Jayland Randall and Campion gave USI a six-point run. Four of those six points came from Randall, who lit up the scoreboard with twenty points for the night. A little over a minute remained and Campion yet again, gave USI the biggest lead of the half, and this time, the biggest lead of the game, with a seventeen-point advantage.
Campion was fouled on a fast break and went two for two on the free throw line. The Cougars snuck in a three in the final seconds, but Southern Indiana took the win by a score of 82-68.
For USI, five players scored in double figures: Randall, (20) Campion, (12) Mielke, (12) Hall (11) and Jones. (10) The offense seemed to be much for free-flowing, as the Eagles shot a remarkable 46.7% from the field (28-60) and from deep (7/15), along with hitting 82.6% from the free throw line. (19/23)
Jack Mielke, in his home finale finished with a double-double of 12 points and a career high 13 rebounds. This was certainly the story-book ending that the fans and him were looking for.
The men’s basketball team will be heading to The University of Tennessee at Martin for their second to last regular-season game this Thursday at 7:30 PM.