Southern Indiana (1-0): 85
North Georgia (0-1): 62

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team began its Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic championship defense with an 85-62 victory over North Georgia College and State University Friday evening in Orlando, Florida. USI starts the year 1-0 for the 21st straight season.

The Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic is being played in the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

After the game was tied 3-3 in the opening minute, the Screaming Eagles took the lead for good on a lay-up by senior forward Marty Wise (New Orleans, Louisiana) and never looked back. The Wise lay-up started a 6-0 run and propelled USI to lead by as many as 14 points on three different occasions in the first half.

The Eagles, who led at the intermission, 39-29, came out of the locker room in the second half to boost the lead to 15 points, 44-29, on junior guard Kenny Love's (South Bend, Indiana) jumper with 18:04 to play in the game. USI would go on to lead by as many as 27 points, 85-58, with 1:44 left.

The Eagles had four players score in double figures, led by the 19-point performance of senior center Rashard Sullivan (Miami, Florida). Sullivan was joined in double figures by senior guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana), who had 14 points and the first points of the year for the Eagles junior guard Kenny Page (Indianapolis, Indiana), who dropped in 14 points and Wise, who recorded 12 points.

Wise also had a double-double, leading the team with 13 boards. USI outrebounded the Saints, 36-23.

USI continues its quest for a second straight title in the Tip-Off Classic against Pace University Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (CST). The Eagles complete tournament play against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Sunday 3:30 p.m. (CST).

The first home game for the Eagles at the newly renovated Physical Activities Center will be November 15 when Wayne State University comes to Evansville for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.