GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERNCE MEN'S TOURNAMENT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana's senior center Ronnie Griffin (Louisville, Kentucky) and sophomore forward Billy Harris (Carbondale, Illinois) combined for 41 points Thursday night as the University of Southern Indiana held off the University of Indianapolis, 82-79, in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament in Roberts Stadium.

Southern Indiana (22-7) built a 14-point lead with 6:43 remaining in the game, but Indianapolis buried a barrage of late three-point shots to get within one point (78-77) in the final minute. For the game, the Greyhounds made 10 of 35 three-point attempts.

After Griffin made a pair of free throws to give Southern Indiana an 82-79 lead, Indianapolis had two chances to tie the game in the closing seconds. Both attempts, however, were off target and the fourth-seeded Screaming Eagles advanced to Friday night's semifinals against the winner of the Kentucky Wesleyan/Missouri-St. Louis game.

USI Head Coach Rick Herdes tied a school record with 22 wins as rookie head coach. Former Eagles' coach Bruce Pearl had 22 wins during his first season in 1992-93.

Cedric Moodie scored a game-high 22 points to lead fifth-seeded Indianapolis, which finished with a 15-12 record. David Logan added 17 points, and Rob Kent finished with 15 points.

USI will advance to play the winner of top-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan College and eighth seeded University of Missouri-St. Louis Friday, March 1, at 8:30 p.m. (CT)