USI to celebrate basketball home opening weekend Division I games

Join the University of Southern Indiana as we dare to soar into the Division I era. USI Basketball will take the Screaming Eagles Arena for home opening weekend Division I games Friday, November 11 and Sunday, November 13. USI Women’s Basketball will face off against Western Illinois University at 6 p.m. November 11, and USI Men’s Basketball will take on Southern Illinois University at 3 p.m. November 13. Below are some of the happenings you do not want to miss opening weekend: 

BOGO USI Fandom Ticket Deal 

USI fans who purchase a ticket to a home opening weekend Division I game will receive a second ticket to the other game for free. That includes tickets to both the Women’s home opener at 6 p.m. Friday, November 11 and the Men’s home opener at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 13 for $10. 

The USI Fandom Deal is open to the USI community and public. Tickets can be purchased online at usi.universitytickets.com or by calling the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-7165. 

Beer Sales at Screaming Eagles Arena 

USI announced a pilot program to offer the sale of beer in public areas of the Screaming Eagles Arena on campus for Men’s and Women’s Basketball games. The sale of beer will begin home opening weekend in a move aimed at enhancing the fan experience. 

Read more on expanded beer sales at Screaming Eagles Arena 

Team Meet and Greets 

The USI Men’s Basketball team will meet fans from 5-6 p.m. at the USI Women’s home opener game on Friday, November 11. The USI Women’s Basketball team will meet fans from 2-3 p.m. at the USI Men’s home opener game on Sunday, November 13. Both teams will be signing autographs and taking photos in the main lobby of the Screaming Eagles Arena across from the Hall of Fame. 

DI Photo Spot 

An eight-foot-tall, eight-foot-wide USI DI photo prop will be displayed on the second-floor concourse across from Concession Stand One in the Screaming Eagles Arena. Welcome in the Division I era by posing for photos with friends and family, commemorating history as it happens. 

Jerry Bulger, Part-Time USI Employee, designed and built the DI photo spot from scratch over the last three weeks. 

Pre-game Spirit Station 

Game day face painting and temporary Archie tattoos will be offered in the main lobby of the Screaming Eagles Arena across from the Hall of Fame from 5-6 p.m. at the USI Women’s home opener game on Friday, November 11 and from 2-3 p.m. at the USI Men’s home opener game on Sunday, November 13. 

To volunteer to do game day face painting and temporary Archie tattoos for either game, contact Megan Doyle, Associate Director of Special Events & Scheduling, at 812-464-1745. 

USI Athletics GIFs 

To spread hype for home opening weekend games, a specially curated collection of GIFs is available to use via GIPHY. Search “usiathletics” (no quotes) on Instagram Stories, to find a collection of USI Athletics-themed GIFs. To use general USI GIFs on Instagram Stories, search “usi.” 

Boom Squad Inc. Performances 

Boom Squad Inc. (BSI) will give an exciting performance during halftime at both the Women’s and Men’s Basketball games. BSI is a performing drum line located in the heart of Evansville. It consists of 215 students, age 4 to 17, representing 41 schools in the Evansville Metropolitan Area. In addition, there are more than 60 parent and adult volunteers involved with the group. The majority of students, parents and volunteers live within Evansville’s urban district 4th Ward. 

USI Pep Band 

The USI Pep Band will return to the Screaming Eagles Arena home opening weekend, adding its musical flair to the action-packed atmosphere. The USI Pep Band will be comprised of 20-25 members for home opening weekend Division I games, including current students and alumni. 

Over its 33-season history, the USI Pep Band has performed at several Great Lakes Valley Conference tournaments, NCAA regional appearances and a handful of Division II national championship games.  

Screagle Zone™ Fan Store 

The Screagle Zone™ fan store will be stocked with USI merchandise during home opening weekend Division I games. The store will be open one hour pre-game and remain open post-game for all 2022-23 home Women’s and Men’s Basketball games. 

Mt. Vernon Expressway Jeep Shootout 

At both games during home opening weekend, USI students will have the chance to win a 2022 Jeep Wrangler from Mt. Vernon Expressway Jeep. Students can sign up to enter the Mt. Vernon Expressway Jeep Shootout near the student entrance at the southwest corner of the Screaming Eagles Arena nearest the USI Aquatic Center. 

If chosen, the student will have to make a layup, free throw, three-point shot and a half-court shot in 25 seconds to win. 

This contest will take place at 10 other home games during the 2022-23 season to be announced later. 

Panhellenic Council Women’s Empowerment Week 

USI Panhellenic Council is holding Women’s Empowerment Week Tuesday, November 8 through Friday, November 11. USI Panhellenic sorority chapters have pledged to have over 70% of their members in attendance at the USI Women’s Basketball home opening game on Friday, November 11.  

The USI Student Government Association is also encouraging all women-led student organizations to attend the game. 

Housing and Residence Life Rally Points 

USI Housing and Residence Life has identified two rally points in Housing and Residence Life areas of campus. Rally points will be between Newman and Governors Halls and Ruston and O’Bannon Halls, and students who live in campus housing are invited to walk to the Screaming Eagles Arena and engage in spirit-related activities along the way.