at Southern Indiana (7-0): 105
Illinois-Springfield (6-4): 71
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Five University of Southern Indiana men's basketball players reached double digits in the scoring column as the Screaming Eagles defeated the University of Illinois-Springfield, 105-71, Saturday night at the Physical Activities Center. It marked the second straight game and the third time this season that the Eagles have reached the century mark.

USI (7-0), which shot 52.7 percent from the field including a blistering 61.3 percent in the second half, used a stifling defensive effort in the opening period to build a 13-2 advantage in the first seven minutes of regulation.

The Eagles continued to pour on the pressure and eventually pushed the margin to 23 points after scoring eight straight points in a span of 35 seconds.

Illinois-Springfield (6-4), however, cut into the Eagles' lead, using a 6-0 run to end the half and go into the intermission trailing 51-34.

USI, behind 15 second-half points and five dunks by senior forward/center Rashard Sullivan (Miami, Florida), started the final period with an 11-3 run to increase its lead to 25 with 17 minutes remaining in the game.

Sullivan finished the contest with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while senior guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana) scored a game-high 18 points.

Freshman forward/center Brandon Hopf (Ferdinand, Indiana) added a season-best 15 points, while senior guard/forward Mary Wise (New Orleans, Louisiana) chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds. Senior Nick Brooks (Robinson, Illinois) rounded out USI's double-digit scoring performers with 10 points.

Senior guard Eddie Smith led the Prairie Stars with 15 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Cory Farmer and sophomore forward Dane Litwiller added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Eagles return to action next Saturday when they open GLVC play against arch-rival Kentucky Wesleyan College. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the PAC.