SW Indiana News

Lakes, Swope lead Eagles over Tennessee State

University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) and sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) combined for 50 points in leading the Screaming Eagles over Tennessee State University, 93-81, Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. The Eagles go to 16-15 overall and 9-9 in the OVC, while the Tigers are 18-13, 10-8 OVC. 

 

With the victory, USI finishes its first NCAA Division I regular season over .500 and its first season in the Ohio Valley Conference at the .500 mark.

 

In a game that saw only five Eagles post points in the scoring column, Lakes and Swope led the way. Lakes score his 25 points on red hot seven-of-11 from the field, five-of-nine from beyond the arc, and a perfect six-of-six from the line for this third highest point total of the season.

 

Swope ended the game eight-of-18 from the field, including a pair of three-point field goals, and a perfect seven-of-seven from the stripe for his 10th 20-point game of the season and his fourth straight. The sophomore guard is averaging 24.8 points per contest in the last four outings.

 

USI senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) followed Lakes and Swope with 16 points, including his 1,000-career point as a Screaming Eagle. Simmons ties Chad Gilbert (1994-96) for 21st all-time at USI with 1,011 career points as an Eagle and has 1,441 career points in his collegiate career (1,011 at USI; 430 at Youngstown State University). He is the 23rd Eagle all-time to reach 1,000 points in a USI uniform.

 

USI sophomore guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) and senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) rounded out the USI offense in the contest with 15 points and 12 points, respectively. Polakovich also grabbed 15 rebounds to complete his 14th double-double of the season and his 20th double-figure rebounding game of the year.

 

In the contest, USI had to battle back from a nine-point deficit in the first half to tie the game before halftime, 37-37. Hernandez and Polakovich led the push to tie that game at the intermission with four points each as USI went on a 13-4 run to conclude the half.

 

The second half started with the Tigers outscoring the Eagles, 8-4, to top off the final 20 minutes and take a 45-41 lead. The Eagles responded with a 12-2 run to push in front, 53-47, when Swope connected on a three-point field goal with 13:27 to play.

 

TSU, however, was not done as it would re-take the lead, 56-55, with just under 11 minutes to play. That would be the last time USI would trail as the Eagles began to methodically pull away, extending the lead to a game-best 13 points, 80-67, with 2:43 to play.

 

USI and TSU would trade points in the final three minutes as the Eagles closed out the 93-81 victory. The 93 points were the second-highest point total of the season for USI.

Original source can be found here.