The OVC has made another move to counter the impending exits of three of its members, announcing the addition of the University of Southern Indiana as a member.

Southern Indiana’s addition will be effective on July 1, 2022, the same day that Austin Peay and Belmont are set to leave the conference and the day after Murray State’s departure.

On Feb. 7, Southern Indiana’s board of trustees voted unanimously to apply for reclassification from the NCAA to move from Division II to Division I.

Southern Indiana is based in Evansville, which has served as the site of the OVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships since 2018, and the Screaming Eagles’ basketball programs have had recent success.

Their men’s team is currently 13-5 overall and 8-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They also advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2019.

Their women’s team is 17-3 overall and 11-1 in conference play and was ranked 25th in the Feb. 8 release of the WBCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll.

Southern Indiana has also won two national championships in the past decade, with the baseball team winning in 2014 and softball in 2018.

This addition will give the OVC nine members for the 2022-23 academic year, one fewer than they have right now and three fewer than the 2020-21 academic year.

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or ajtumino@eiu.edu.