EVANSVILLE -- The first five games of the University of Southern Indiana men's basketball season are in the books.
The Screaming Eagles, aiming for a bounce-back season, haven't exactly started on the right foot with a 1-4 record. After dropping their first two games in overtime, the Eagles split the I-64 Showcase with Marshall and Bellarmine before suffering a 19-point road loss to Purdue Fort Wayne this past Saturday.
With only five more games until Ohio Valley Conference play, here are a few takeaways from USI's start.
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Despite the 1-4 start, there have been exciting moments.
One of the biggest was Jack Campion's game-winning jumper at Bellarmine with 1.4 seconds remaining to give USI its first victory. Freshman Josiah Dunham, an Evansville Christian product, has quickly become a fan favorite as Liberty Arena exploded when he drained his first collegiate 3-pointer against Bucknell.
All four of USI's players averaging double-digit scoring are transfers. Jayland Randall is the OVC's 10th-leading scorer (15.4 PPG) while Stephen Olowoniyi averages the conference's seventh-most rebounds at 6.8 per game. They were the only Eagles named to the All-OVC preseason team.
Damoni Harrison isn't just the team's second-leading scorer but also the second-leading rebounder. The only Eagle to score double digits in every game so far this season, Harrison's best outing was a 20-point, six-rebound performance against Marshall.
Sam Kodi also had a breakout performance against the Thundering Herd by scoring 16 points off the bench.
One transfer who hasn't started for USI yet is Jared Washington. Not only does he provide depth at the already-loaded guard position, but he's trended upward since making his season debut last week against Bellarmine. He scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed three rebounds in the following game against Purdue Fort Wayne.
Dunham has averaged 20.6 minutes and 2.8 rebounds per game off the bench while shooting 83% at the free throw line, 31% from the field and 22% on 3-pointers. And that's all while adjusting to the increased speed of college basketball.
USI coach Stan Gouard has voiced confidence in Dunham, noting after the home opener against Bucknell he trusts him on both sides of the ball.
"He has a very solid foundation from his family in terms of playing," Gouard said. "I trust him to do what we ask him to do. He's a great program guy, and I think his best basketball is ahead of him."
Outside of Campion's winner against Bellarmine, USI has struggled to close out games. It didn't have much of an answer for Bucknell's big in the second half as he finished with 32 points and nine rebounds. That led to the second overtime loss out of the gate.
Although USI's newcomers have stepped up, the Eagles are far from the OVC's most explosive offense. They've averaged the fourth-fewest points per game in the conference at 71 and the defense hasn't fared much better, allowing the second-most points per game at 78.8.
One of USI's biggest issues has been foul trouble. At least one player has registered four or more personal fouls in every game this season, and three Eagles -- Olowoniyi, Randall and Jack Mielke -- exited the Marshall contest early after fouling out.
The Eagles also finished that game with just two assists.
This is the second consecutive season the Eagles have started 1-4. It's worth noting that DePaul and Purdue Fort Wayne are in the top 115 of KenPom, but as USI returns to Liberty Arena to face South Dakota on Friday night, it will look to create some momentum before OVC play begins.
After hosting South Dakota (4-1), they'll welcome Indiana State (2-2) on Monday before a game against non-Division I East West on Dec. 2. Perhaps the biggest test looming will come on Dec. 7 against Southern Illinois (2-2) in Carbondale as they'll then play another non-DI, Shawnee State.
The main goal for this season is to compete for OVC titles. Can USI continue putting the pieces together this winter and bounce back? These next five games could provide a boost.