University of Southern Indiana senior guard David Ragland (Evansville, Indiana) sent the game into overtime and sophomore guard Cris Brunson (Evansville, Indiana) hit the game-winner as the Screaming Eagles defeated 10th-ranked Northern Kentucky University, 87-85, in Highland Heights, Kentucky, Thursday evening. USI raises its record to 17-5 overall and 11-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while NKU falls to 19-4 overall, 13-3 GLVC.

The USI victory also stopped NKU's 20-game home winning streak, the NCAA Division II's second longest current streak.

The Eagles, who trailed 32-29 at the intermission, used an 8-0 run to build an early 37-32 lead in the second half before the Norse rallied back for a seven point, 56-49, lead. USI patiently came back in the final 10 minutes, setting the stage for a last second shot by Ragland. Ragland hit a three-point field with four-tenth of a second to play to send the game into overtime tied at 77-77.

In the overtime period, USI outscored NKU by two points, 10-8. The biggest two points was the game-winner with two seconds to play by Brunson.

Putting USI in the position to put the game into overtime and win in the extra period was senior forward Diond're Givens (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) and sophomore forward Dennis Coutee (Jeffersonville, Indiana). Givens led the Eagles with 29 points, while Coutee followed with his season-best 27 points.

USI junior forward Billy Harris (Carbondale, Illinois), who had a big defensive play in overtime to put the Eagle in position for the final bucket, rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

The Eagles will conclude the two-game road trip Saturday, February 15, at the University of Indianapolis for a 2 p.m. (CT) contest. USI concludes the 2002-03 home schedule next week when it host the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Thursday, February 20, and 18th ranked Lewis University Saturday, February 22, at the Physical Activities Center.