COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Southern Indiana broke open a halftime tie with a dominant second half to defeat Tennessee Tech 71-54 in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Eblen Center. The Screaming Eagles outscored the Golden Eagles 44-27 after the break. Ismail Habib led Southern Indiana with 21 points and seven assists. Cardell Bailey added 17 points for the Screaming Eagles, who improved to 4-12. JaJuan Nicholls scored 16 points for Tennessee Tech, which fell to 7-11. The Golden Eagles shot just 3 for 20 from three-point range and committed 12 turnovers. Southern Indiana capitalized with 15 points off those turnovers. Attendance was 1,250.

ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — A stagnant offense and a cascade of self-inflicted errors doomed Tennessee Tech on Thursday night, while Southern Indiana’s backcourt duo of Ismail Habib and Cardell Bailey ignited a decisive second-half surge to snap a five-game losing streak. The Screaming Eagles, who entered the contest with just three wins, methodically pulled away from the Golden Eagles in the final 20 minutes for a 71-54 victory in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game at Eblen Center. The game’s pivotal shift came after a first half that ended in a 27-27 deadlock. Southern Indiana emerged from the break with immediate purpose. Habib, a junior guard from Chicago, drilled a 3-pointer on the opening possession, setting a tone of aggression that Tennessee Tech could never match. That shot sparked a 17-3 Screaming Eagle run over the first seven minutes of the second half, transforming a tie game into a commanding 44-30 lead. Tennessee Tech, which shot a frigid 3 for 20 from beyond the arc for the game, went scoreless for over four minutes during that stretch. The Golden Eagles compounded their shooting woes with careless ball-handling, committing 12 turnovers that Southern Indiana converted into 15 points. By contrast, the Screaming Eagles were remarkably secure, giving the ball away only three times. Habib was the engine for Southern Indiana, finishing with a game-high 21 points and seven assists in 34 minutes. His penetration and playmaking consistently broke down the Tennessee Tech defense. He found a perfect partner in Bailey, a sophomore from Detroit who scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half. Bailey’s scoring burst included a pair of emphatic dunks that punctuated the Screaming Eagles’ dominance, one off a Habib feed and another following a steal. The Golden Eagles, who had been installed as six-point favorites, never recovered from the second-half onslaught. They managed only 27 points after halftime, mirroring their first-half output, and finished with an offensive rating of just 77.0 points per 100 possessions. JaJuan Nicholls provided a bright spot for the home team with 16 points, but Tennessee Tech’s backcourt struggled mightily. Starters Ty Owens and Malik Ferguson combined to shoot 6 of 21 from the field. Southern Indiana’s defensive presence was anchored by 6-foot-11 freshman Devin Curtis of Milwaukee, who swatted four shots and altered several others. The Screaming Eagles also controlled the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 12 second-chance points. The victory improved Southern Indiana to 4-12 overall and 1-2 in OVC play, offering a respite during a difficult season. The loss dropped Tennessee Tech to 7-11 and 1-2 in the conference, continuing a pattern of inconsistency. Both teams return to action on Saturday. Southern Indiana travels to face Tennessee State, while Tennessee Tech remains at home to host Morehead State.

ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — Two Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Thursday when the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles host the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles at Eblen Center. The Golden Eagles (7-10, 2-2 OVC) are coming off a 59-54 road win over Western Illinois on Saturday, which snapped a four-game losing streak. Tennessee Tech has found more success at home this season, going 5-3 in Algood. Southern Indiana (3-12, 0-4) seeks its first conference victory amid an eight-game skid. The Screaming Eagles fell 73-56 at home to Tennessee-Martin on Saturday. Their last win came on Nov. 26 against Valparaiso. A key matchup will feature two of the league’s recent top scorers. Southern Indiana guard Amaree Brown is averaging 16 points over his last two games, including a 17-point effort against UT Martin. For Tennessee Tech, guard Mekhi Cameron is coming off a 15-point performance in the win over Western Illinois and scored 19 points in a Dec. 20 contest against UT Martin. Tennessee Tech won both meetings last season, including an 85-63 victory in the most recent matchup in Algood on Feb. 15, 2025. The Golden Eagles will aim to leverage their home court and improved conference standing, while the Screaming Eagles desperately need a turnaround to salvage their OVC campaign. Following this game, Tennessee Tech hosts Morehead State on Saturday, while Southern Indiana travels to face Tennessee State.