University of Southern Indiana sophomore forward Dennis Coutee (Jeffersonville, Indiana) scored nine points in the final 1:19 of overtime to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 115-108 victory at Saint Joseph's College Thursday evening in Rensselaer, Indiana. USI raises its record 12-4 overall and 7-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while SJC falls to 8-9 overall, 4-6 GLVC.

Coutee sealed the victory for the Eagles in that final minute, tying the score and giving the team the lead 106-105 with a pair of free throws. He followed that with a three-pointer, a steal, and four more free throws to give USI the victory.

The Screaming Eagles tried to pull away with several runs in the first half, but Pumas pulled to within 48-43 at the intermission. The Eagles built several more leads in the second half but the Pumas were able to outscore USI by five and send the game into overtime, 93-93.

SJC bounced out to an early lead in the overtime period, but USI found its energy reserves to outscore the Pumas 18-7 in the finals minutes for the victory.

Coutee led the Eagles with a season-best 24 points to lead six USI players in double-digits. Coutee was followed by senior forward Diond're Givens (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and junior forward/center Billy Harris (Carbondale, Illinois) with 18 points each.

USI's next tier of double-digit scorers was led by senior guard David Ragland (Evansville, Indiana) with 12 points, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds. Junior guard Mike Arnold (Indianapolis, Indiana) posted a career-best 11 points, while junior forward Clarence Chillers (Chicago, Illinois) recored a double-double with 10 poins and 11 rebounds. Chillers and Givens posted double-doubles with game-high 11 rebounds each.

The Eagles will return to conference action Saturday, January 25, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, when they play the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Game time Saturday is 3:15 p.m.