The Battle for the Bridge is set to continue as the University of Southern Indiana and Kentucky Wesleyan College men's basketball programs have agreed to a home-and-home contract for the 2013-14 season.
The Panthers are slated to host the Screaming Eagles at the Owensboro Sportscenter Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., while USI hosts KWC at the Physical Activities Center Dec. 21 at 1 p.m.
The need for a formal agreement between the two programs was needed due to KWC's departure from the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Panthers starts play in the inaugural season of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference next year.
The USI-KWC rivalry is one of the most storied in all of the NCAA Division II and college basketball as a whole. The two teams have meet 83 times since the 1975-76 season with the Panthers leading the Eagles, 49-38. The series is tied, 16-16, since 2000 after USI took both games this past season.
Of the last 40 games, both teams have tipped off ranked in the top-10 17 times at tip-off and in the top-five nine times. USI, which has won 12 of the last 17 meetings, won the battle of the 15th-ranked Eagles and second-ranked Panthers last January, 72-53, at the Sportscenter.
"This is one of those rivalries that should never end," said USI Head Coach Rodney Watson. "The battle between USI and KWC is as important to the players and coaches as it is to the fans.
"The only difference this year is a conference or division title won't be on the line," continued Watson. "However, these games will hold huge regional implications."
New KWC Head Coach Happy Osborne added, "For many, many years I've known about this historic rivalry as a basketball fan from afar and now it's truly exciting to have the opportunity to coach in this legendary matchup of two Division II powerhouses.
"I firmly believe in the old adage to be the best, we must play the best. Our players and fans deserve keeping the 'Battle of the Bridge' alive for many years."
The timing of the games also is important to both school's 2013-14 schedule.
Both coaches agreed that the November game in Owensboro would tell them where both teams were to open the season, while the December game at the PAC gives both squads a tough, important game right before the NCAA II holiday break that leads into the beginning of the GLVC and GMAC schedules in January.
The remainder of the USI and KWC 2013-14 schedules will be announced when it is complete this summer.
