EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles will look to rebound from a season-opening loss when they host the high-scoring Virginia Military Institute Keydets on Friday at the Physical Activities Center.

VMI (1-0) enters the non-conference men’s basketball matchup riding a wave of offensive momentum after a 122-58 rout of JWU Charlotte on Monday. Junior Mario Tatum led the charge with 23 points, while TJ Johnson added 19 points and Tan Yildizoglu recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.

Conversely, Southern Indiana (0-1) is seeking its first win after falling 88-58 on the road to Butler on Wednesday. Kaden Brown paced the Screaming Eagles with 13 points in the loss.

The game presents a stark contrast in early-season trajectories. The Keydets’ potent offense will be tested against a Screaming Eagles squad aiming to tighten its defense on its home floor. For VMI, this begins a challenging two-game road trip, with a game at Missouri looming on Sunday. Southern Indiana will hit the road for its next contest at South Dakota on Nov. 12.