Southern Indiana (10-4, 6-2 GLVC): 81
@Saint Joseph's (8-6, 4-4 GLVC): 89

RENSSELAER, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team could fight its way back from a huge first half deficit in falling, 89-81, to Saint Joseph's College Thursday evening in Rensselaer, Indiana. USI falls to 10-4 overall and 6-2 in the GLVC, while SJC goes 8-6 overall, 4-4 GLVC.

After USI took an early 4-2 lead in the first half, the Pumas exploded offensively. SJC outscored the Screaming Eagles 34-11 to take a 36-15 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the opening stanza.

The Screaming Eagles fought back with a 23-6 run of their own, cutting the Pumas' lead to four point by halftime, 42-38. Senior center Randy Holbrook (St. Louis, Missouri) and freshman guard Carl Richburg (Mason, Ohio) led the way in the first half combining for 29 of USI's 38 points. Holbrook scored 10 of his 14 first half points during the 23-6 run, while Richburg led the squad with 15 points in the opening period.

USI cut the Puma lead to three points, 48-45, early in the second half but that would be as close as it would get the rest of the game. SJC responded to every run the Eagles made in the second half, leading by as many as 14 points during the final period and hitting 16-of-23 from the line.

The Eagles were led by Richburg, who posted a season-high for the fourth straight game with 25 points. Holbrook followed Richburg with 20 points, while junior forward Chris Thompson (Starke, Florida) added 11 points. Thompson posted his fourth straight double-double with 11 rebounds to lead the team, while Holbrook recorded his second straight double-double with 10 rebounds.

USI concludes the two-game road trip at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Saturday at 3 p.m. in Kenosha, Wisconsin. UWP lost 80-73 at home to the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is 6-10 overall, 3-6 GLVC.