The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team could not hold a 21-point second half lead and lost to Bellarmine University, 82-80, in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday evening. USI falls to 2-2 overall, 0-2 GLVC, while the Knights go to 3-5 overall, 1-1 GLVC.

The Screaming Eagles led 44-34 at halftime and scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 52-34 lead. The Eagles extended the lead to 21 points, 60-39, with 13:29 to play before the Knights stormed back. Bellarmine cut the USI lead by scoring on 19 of their last 24 possessions, including the game winning three-point field goal by Justin Cornell with 2.7 seconds to play.

USI had five players score in double figures, led by junior forward Clarence Chillers (Chicago, Illinois) with 17 points and seven rebounds. Chillers was followed by junior forward Dennis Coutee (Jeffersonville, Indiana) with 13 points and junior center Ronald Rountree (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) with 11 points. Senior forward Diond're Givens (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and junior forward Billy Harris (Carbondale, Illinois) had 10 points each to round out the double figure scorers.

The Eagles will have a chance to get back on track at the Physical Activities Center Thursday, December 5, against the University of Indianapolis to start a short two-game homestand. Game time on Thursday is 7:30 p.m.