The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team used a 20-11 run midway through the first half to drive past Oakland City University, 98-70, Wednesday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI gets back on track and raises its record 6-3 overall, while OCU falls to 2-5 in 2002-03.

The 20-11 run enabled the Screaming Eagles to build a 16 point margin, 40-24, with 5:04 to play in the first stanza and went into the intermission with a 47-36 lead. The Eagles wore down the Mighty Oaks in the second half, building the margin to 30-points twice and to as many as 31 in the final minute.

Senior forward Diond're Givens' (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) career-high 30 points led four Eagles in double figures. Junior forward Billy Harris (Carbondale, Illinois) followed Givens with his first double-double of the year, posting 21 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds.

Rounding out the double-figure scorers were sophomore guard Cris Brunson (Evansville, Indiana) with 15 points and sophomore forward Dennis Coutee (Jeffersonville, Indiana), 12 points. Junior center Reque Newsome (St. Petersburg, Florida) was one point shy of a double-double, recording nine points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard David Ragland (Evansville, Indiana) had a game-high eight assists.

USI will be off for 11 days before resuming action at home Sunday, December 29, against Lock Haven University in a 1 p.m. contest. The Eagles will resume Great Lakes Valley Conference action Thursday, January 2, at Lewis University for a 7:30 p.m. match-up.