#16 Indianapolis (8-0): 90
Ferris State (3-6): 77 

#1 Southern Indiana (9-0): 93
North Alabama (5-6): 75 

Sprint Player of the Game (5:15 p.m.):
David Logan, Indianapolis
Sprint Player of the Game (7:30 p.m.):
John Oden, Southern Indiana

#1-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team started the holiday season off right with a 93-75 victory over the University of North Alabama Friday night in the first night of the USI/Sprint Challenge at the Physical Activities Center. USI raises it record to 9-0 overall, while UNA falls to 5-6.

The Screaming Eagles were pressured early by the Lions, but used an 11-3 run with 10 minutes to play in the first half to separate themselves and go into the intermission with a 52-39 lead. The second half saw the Eagles continue to build its lead, pushing the margin to as many as 20 points, 93-73, with just over a minute to play.

USI was led by the Sprint Player of the Game, senior center John Oden (St. Louis, Missouri). Oden produced his first double-double of the year with a 19 point and 10 rebound performance and led five Eagles in double-digit scoring.

Junior guard Aaron Austin (Chicago Heights, Illinois) followed Oden with 15 points, while junior guard Cris Brunson (Evansville, Indiana) had 13 points senior guard Joe Gordon (Palm Bay, Florida) dropped in 12 points and freshman guard forward Geoff Van Winkle (Ferdinand, Indiana) added 10 points.

On the boards, USI was led by senior forward Billy Harris (Carbondale, Illinois) with 11 rebounds. The double-digit rebound performance was the third of the year for Harris.

USI will conclude the Sprint Challenge with a 7:30 p.m. match-up with Ferris State University Saturday, December 20. FSU fell to 3-6 overall after losing at 90-77 decision to the University of Indianapolis. Indianapolis, 8-0 overall, will take on North Alabama in the 5:15 p.m. game.