EVANSVILLE -- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods fell to 0-2 against NCAA Division I opponents Thursday at Screaming Eagles Arena, falling 84-42 to the University of Southern Indiana.
Davin Miler had eight points and nine rebounds, leading 12 SMWC players that got in the scoring column. Miller scored the game's first bucket as the Pomeroys held the lead for the first 1:29 of the game, but the Eagles went on a 21-4 run to take control of the game.
The Screaming Eagles' defense held the Pomeroys to 27.8 percent shooting and forced 23 Pomeroys' turnovers.
Leading scorer
Keith Germain was held to seven points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of action. SMWC made 3 of 22 from 3-point range.
SMWC coach Mike Hunter praised his team's defense in the first half as they held the Eagles to 40.6 percent shooting and trailed 38-14.
"Our defense was a positive. We went into the half and they had 38 points. That's a pretty good half against a Division I opponent," Hunter said. "It got a little out of hand at the end, but we gave some guys a chance to play that hadn't played much."
"It's really about going out and competing. Just going out and doing your job the best you can. We put our basketball shorts on the same way they put theirs on. It's a good opportunity. I appreciate coach giving us a chance to come down here and get some good competition."
USI head coach Stan Gouard, whose team was coming off a win against Indiana State, was complimentary of the Pomeroys.
"A well-coached ball club. Really athletic, they have some guys that are going to cause some problems," Gouard said. "I know they're pretty early in their existence. They played together very well. We've played some teams at that level, Anderson and Lourdes, and [SMWC] was better than them. They cause some problems the way they can shoot the basketball. Our defense was just really good tonight."
SMWC held reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week Trevor Lakes to just five points, seven below his average.
The Pomeroys (4-8) returns to action Friday night at Miami (Ohio) Middletown at 7:30 p.m. before playing host to Brescia on Sunday in RSC action.
"We've got a little gauntlet here. If you want to win tournaments and play well and make it to the NAIA Tournament, this type of setup, with three games in four days, is going to help you get where you want to go," Hunter said.
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