EVANSVILLE – About two weeks ago, the University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team watched the NCAA Division II selection show when their post-season spell was decided.

For the fourth time this season, the Screaming Eagles faced off against the conference enemy of the Great Lakes Valley Missouri-St. Louis in the Midwest Regional opening game.

Then, like everyone else, USI saw its season go up in smoke as the NCAA announced that all post-season men’s and women’s basketball tournaments had been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the season ended shockingly, it was another solid campaign for the Eagles. With a record of 22-8, USI had its fourth consecutive season of 20 wins and also spent several weeks in the top 25 of the NABC Coaches Poll and the D2SIDA rankings.

Here is a brief overview of the ISU campaign with highlights of some of the best games of the season, the growth of individual players and a review of several milestones achieved.

Ranked wins, second half struggles to lose

During the season, the ISU men’s basketball team experienced several streaks.

The Eagles started 9-1 with a single loss to McKendree. But then USI dropped three straight games to fall below 0.500 in conference right after the New Year. USI responded with a 12-1 after that before losing two straight games to conclude the regular season.

There were several good performances throughout the year. USI tied a school record when seven players finished double-digit in a 121-58 win over Oakland City. They also surpassed 100 points two more times – a 105-89 defeat for Tiffin and a 101-77 rout for enemy GLVC Lindenwood.

USI managed to defeat a pair of classified enemies during the regular season. Junior forward Josh Price helped guide the Eagles to an 86-82 loss to No. 25 ranked Drury on January 2, while junior guard Mateo Rivera’s free throw with three seconds remaining and attack 21 points and 16 rebounds from junior striker Emmanuel Little helped avoid off No. 19 UMSL. The Eagles also beat Truman State, who ended up winning the GLVC, 79-76 behind 26 points, the tallest match in Little’s game.

Perhaps the most impressive victory came at exactly the moment they needed it most – in a win-win situation against their biggest rival, Bellarmine – a team they had already lost twice in regular season.

With the two teams appearing to be on the brink of a spot for the NCAA tournament, the Eagles rallied late to defeat the Knights 76-73. Little and main goalkeeper Kobe Caldwell made big late shots while Little also defended as his buzzer block sent the Eagles into the GLVC semifinals. The loss was the Knights’ last Division II game.

But if there were many positive points, there were also some negative points.

USI saw a 19 point lead in the first half in a 68-64 loss to McKendree. An 11-point lead was lost in a 71-69 home loss to Southwest Baptist. The Eagles also lost a 13-point lead in the first half in an 86-74 loss to Indianapolis.

Against the top four conference teams, USI went just 3-6, including two losses against Bellarmine, Indianapolis and UMSL.

Growth from top to bottom of the list

From the top five on the team bench rotation, the Eagles have grown tremendously in many ways from almost all of the players who were dressed this season.

Little senior goalkeeper Joe Laravie has been the only player to start in the 30 games this season, but they’ve done more than just take a spot in the top five; they’ve contributed to many different levels. Little, who was a member of the first team at all GLVC conferences, could produce offensively from anywhere on the field while building double-digit rebounds almost every night with a best rebound of 8.2 teams per game. Laravie, a senior transfer from Christian Brothers, could stop at will while blocking defensively.

Price, junior forward Tyler Dancy and first-year goalkeeper Chance Coyle were the other three players who participated in 30 games this year. Price was a double-double machine that reached new career heights in points (25) and rebounds (13). Dancy started several games early in the season and scored a career high of 15 against Oakland City. Coyle was a key contributor off the bench as the team’s sixth man and did a great job as the starting point keeper while Rivera was inactive.

After being key contributors in the final round of the USI in 2018-19, Caldwell and Rivera again played huge roles after missing a lot of time at the start of the season. Rivera missed the first seven games for academic reasons, but averaged 11.6 points per game and 5.6 rpg and was a second team selection all of GLVC. After an injury to Achilles during the offseason, Caldwell returned to action in early January and averaged 9.3 points per game as he returned to the starting lineup before the Eagles’ final stretch.

In addition to Laravie, junior forward Clayton Hughes and senior guard Darnell Butler also provided the Eagles with additional depth during transfers. Hughes started 16 games for USI before going on the bench, but he was sharp in both roles – averaging 8.6 points per game and showing extraordinary athleticism with dunks and blocks. Butler fought with injuries but appeared in 24 games for USI and provided a sniper on the bench when needed.

While these nine were the main rotation for USI this season, others performed strongly when called. Junior striker Justin Carpenter saw his minutes increase towards the end of the season with good game play. Before a back injury ended his season, sophomore guard Glen Rouch was another 3-point threat off the bench for USI. Junior goalkeeper Braden Fitzjerrells had heavy minutes at the start of the season before his year ended with a foot injury. First-year forward Langdon Briles gave the Eagles another big body off the bench while second-year guard Humaad Khan wasted no time getting out of the 3-point range every time he entered. a match.

Records, epic moments and more

Throughout the games played, several milestones were also reached.

In the first men’s game played at the Screaming Eagles Arena in front of a season-high of 3,056 against rival Kentucky Wesleyan, head coach Rodney Watson overtook Bruce Pearl to become the most successful coach in the USI with his 232rd career victory – that number is now 251.

“What I find most rewarding is being part of an incredible era that has taken place over the past 27 years,” said Watson after the game. “To be part of the race with coach (Bruce) Pearl and coach (Rick) Herdes, we have had a lot of good players here over the past three decades. (The record) doesn’t hold me back too much because I never made a basket – I had very good players. “

It was also a special season for Little as he joined the USI 1,000-point club after a 29-point performance and 13 rebounds in an 83-74 road victory over Lindenwood. He is one of 21 members to have scored more than 1,000 points in the history of USI men’s basketball and with one more year to go, that number will only increase.

And although this last moment is not necessarily an important step, it is certainly special for those who were present.

USI Athletics honored the 1995 men’s basketball championship team on February 29 with a special guest – former head coach Bruce Pearl, now in Auburn. The team shared stories and moments from this championship race and it was a special moment for everyone involved.

“Milwaukee, Tennessee and Auburn would never have arrived without the people here at USI,” said Pearl. “I have always worn USI, Division II and the city of Evansville on my sleeve. I am very proud of what we have accomplished together and I think it affects us all.”

Contact Courier & Press sports reporter Hendrix Magley by email at [email protected] or via Twitter @TweetsOfHendrix.