USI looks to capture second national championship
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the fourth time in its history, the University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team will be appearing in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Wednesday at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles open action Wednesday at 6 p.m. against third-ranked West Texas A&M University.

Live coverage of the Eagles in the NCAA II Elite Eight, including live stats, audio, and video links, can be found on the men's basketball schedule page and on NCAA.com. The games also can be heard over the airwaves on WEOA 98.5FM/1400AM and 95.7FM The Spin.
 
Tickets for the NCAA Division II Elite Eight are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com as well as the Ford Center Box Office. General admission tickets on Ticketmaster.com are available for $16 each, plus fees; while an NCAA All-Session Tournament ticket is $36, plus fees. For more information on additional pricing, contact the Ford Center Box Office at 1-800-854-2196.
 
The Screaming Eagles (25-8) starts the NCAA II Elite Eight action as the seventh seed, while West Texas A&M (34-3) is the second seed. The USI-West Texas A&M match-up will be followed in the 8:30 p.m. game between third-seeded and 10^th-ranked Queens University (31-4) and sixth-seeded and sixth-ranked Point Loma University (29-4).
 
The opening games Wednesday features fourth-seeded and fifth-ranked Nova Southeastern University (29-3) versus fifth-seeded and 20^th-ranked St. Anslem College (25-5) at noon. The 2:30 p.m. match-up has top-seeded and number one ranked Northwest Missouri State University (35-0) taking on eighth-seeded Mercyhurst University (26-7).

The semifinals will be played Thursday (March 28) at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., while the national championship game is scheduled for March 30 at 2 p.m.

USI Men's Basketball Week 19 NCAA II Tournament Quick Notes:


USI advances to Elite Eight: For the fourth time in the history of the program, the University of Southern Indiana has advanced to the NCAA II Elite Eight. USI earned the right to advance to the Ford Center after defeating Bellarmine University in the Midwest Regional Championship game in Romeoville, Illinois. The Screaming Eagles reached the regional title game with wins over Ashland University and Lewis University.
 
Join the club. USI hopes to join the club of local colleges who have won NCAA II titles in Evansville. The University of Evansville (1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1971) and Kentucky Wesleyan College (1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001), both won NCAA II title in Roberts Stadium.
 
Rivera beats the buzzer. USI sophomore guard Mateo Rivera beat the buzzer versus Lewis to send the Eagles to the regional final on a layup with no time left on the clock. 
 
USI in the 2018-19 post-season. The Eagles are 4-1 in the 2018-19 post-season and are averaging 70.4 points per game. Senior guard Alex Stein leads the team with 19.6 points per game, while junior guard/forward Kobe Caldwell rounds out the double-digit scorers with 12.4 points per contest.
 
USI versus Elite Eight Field. USI is 1-4 all-time against the NCAA II Elite Eight field (1-1 vs. Northwest Missouri State University; 0-2 vs. West Texas A&M University; and 0-1 versus Nova Southeastern University).
 
Eagles at neutral sites in 2018-19. USI is 7-2 at neutral sites in 2018-19 and is led by senior guard Alex Stein with 22.6 points per game, followed junior guard/forward Kobe Caldwell follows with 12.3 points per contest.
 
Post-season awards pile up for Stein. USI senior guard Alex Stein has garnered a lot of recognition the last two weeks. Stein has been named third-team Academic All-America (the first in USI men's basketball history), first team All-GLVC (third-straight), D2CCA first-team All-Midwest Region; NCAA II Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player; and GLVC All-Tournament.
 
2,000 Point Club. Senior guard Alex Stein joined USI's exclusive 2,000 point club this season and is closing in on second all-time. Stein, who has 2,166 career points, needs three points to tie former USI All-All-American and Division II Bulletin Player of the Year Chris Bowles (2,169; 1990-94) for second all-time in program history. USI's all-time scoring leader is former guard Stephen Jackson, who scored 2,216 career points between1983 and 1987 without the aid of the three-point line his first three seasons.
 
USI in the Elite Eight. USI is 7-2 all-time in NCAA II Elite Eight games, averaging 88.1 points per game and allowing 82.3 points per contest.
 
Common opponent in 2019. USI played Northwest Missouri State during the 2004 NCAA II Elite Eight in Bakersfield, California, and defeated the Bearcats, 88-81 in the quarterfinals.
 
National Championship game. Each time the Eagles have advanced to the Elite Eight, they have advanced to the national championship game each time and are 1-2 in the final game.
 
USI vs. previous Elite Eight fields. In the previous Elite Eights, USI was 2-0 versus New Hampshire College; 1-0 versus the University of California-Riverside; 1-0 vs. Northwest Missouri State University; 1-0 versus Metro State University; 1-0 versus University of South Dakota; 1-0 versus Norfolk State University; 0-1 versus the University of California Bakersfield; and 0-1 versus Kennesaw State University.
 
USI versus the Elite Eight Field. USI is 1-4 all-time against the Elite Eight Field, 0-2 on a neutral floor.