Southern Indiana announced Monday that senior Orlando Rutledge will miss the fall semester after “failing to meet satisfactory academic progress,” according to the press release provided by USI.

The 6-6 forward averaged 16.4 points per game for the Eagles last season, while grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game.

“He’s working really hard to correct everything,” USI Head Coach Rodney Watson said. “We are proud of him for doing that.”

Rutledge will miss both exhibition games against Indiana and Tennessee along with eight regular season games out of the team’s 26 games scheduled. Games that will be missed include two games against Kentucky Wesleyan and contests with Virginia Union and NAIA opponent Indiana University-Southeast.

“We have academic standards in place,” Watson said.

At the earliest, Rutledge would be available to return on Jan. 3, at Rockhurst, the Great Lakes Valley Conference season opener for the Eagles.

This is a developing story, please check back to www.usishield.com for more information as it becomes available.