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March 15, 2009
USI has a rough night and falls to #1 Findlay, 81-59
Eagles end the season 27-7
#1 Findlay (32-0) 81, #19 Southern Indiana (27-7): 59
Box Score
FINDLAY, Ohio – The 19th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team had a rough night and lost to number-one ranked University of Findlay, 81-59, Sunday evening in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional in Findlay, Ohio. USI finishes the year 27-7 overall, while Finlay remains perfect at 32-0.
The 27-wins in 2008-09 ties for fifth all-time in the history of the program and marks the fifth time in six seasons that the team has reached that mark.
The Screaming Eagles came out of the gate hot against the top-ranked Oilers, building an early four-point advantage, 8-4, three minutes into the contest. The teams traded leads until Findlay went on a 10-0 run to end the first half and lead 40-32 at the intermission.
USI bounced out of the locker room after halftime and cut the margin in half to five points twice before Findlay went on a torrent 18-4 run to pull out in front 69-50 with 8:16 to play. The Oilers would extend the lead to as many as 22 points three times, including the 81-59 final.
The Eagles were led by junior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois), who scored a team-best 17 points, and junior guard Marvin Gray (Freeport, Bahamas), who scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information