#4 Southern Indiana (4-1, 3-0 GLVC): 78
@Lewis (2-3, 0-3 GLVC): 74

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The fourth-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team escaped with a 78-74 victory at Lewis University Thursday evening in Romeoville, Illinois. USI goes to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the GLVC, while Lewis goes to 2-3 overall, 0-3 GLVC.

Led by senior center Randy Holbrook's (St. Louis, Missouri) 15 points in the first half, the Screaming Eagles controlled the half and led at the intermission, 39-33. USI trailed 17-11 early in the half, but went on a 23-5 run to take a 34-24 lead. The Flyers cut the lead to 34-29 before the Eagles used a five-point spurt to extend the margin to 10 points once again, 39-29. Lewis cut back into lead and trailed by six at halftime.

In the second half, Lewis came back and took a five point lead 61-56 with just under eight minutes to play in the final stanza. The Eagles battled back with a 7-1 run to take a 65-62 lead when the Flyers got back into the game and retook the lead 68-67 with 4:46 to play.

Holbrook, who finished the game with a team-high 26 points, and senior guard Cris Brunson (Evansville, Indiana) put USI back into the lead for good with 3:29 to play. Brunson started a 6-0 run with a three-point bomb to give USI a 70-68 lead, followed by Holbrook's old fashion three-point play to extend the lead to 73-68 with 1:49 to play.

With the Eagles leading 76-74 and one second to play, sophomore forward Geoff Van Winkle (Ferdinand, Indiana) sealed the victory for USI with a pair of free throws. Van Winkle and freshman forward John Hoover (Evansville, Indiana) finished the game with 10 points each to round out the double figure scorers.

The Eagles complete their two-game road trip Saturday when they play at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which is 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC after defeating the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 67-60. Game time is 3 p.m.