Southern Indiana (8-0, 1-0 GLVC): 84
Kentucky Wesleyan (4-1, 0-1 GLVC): 69

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team won the "Battle for the Bridge" trophy with an 84-69 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College at a sold out Physical Activities Center Saturday evening. USI remains perfect in 2006-07 with an 8-0 overall record and 1-0 GLVC mark, while KWC falls for the first time this season and goes to 4-1 overall, 0-1 GLVC.

The Screaming Eagles have won the last six "Battle for the Bridge" games and have won the last five games with the Panthers.

After the teams battled to a 37-37 draw in the first half, the Eagles' defense went to work early in the second half. USI held the Panthers without a field goal until 10:25 left to play, while building a 20 point lead.

The Panthers attempted a comeback after the Eagles extended their lead to 21 points, 68-47, with 8:29 to play. KWC cut the lead to eight points, 70-62, before USI closed the door on the run.

The 21-point lead was the largest of the game for USI.

The Eagles had four players score in double-figures, led the 17-point effort of senior forward Geoff Van Winkle (Ferdinand, Indiana). Van Winkle hit a season-high five three-point field goals and pulled to within five long-range bombs of the USI career-record of 237 held by Cris Brunson (2001-05).

USI Senior guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana) followed Van Winkle in the scoring column with 16 points, dropping in four three-point field goals. The four field goals from beyond the arc put Hall nine three-point field goals ahead of last season's record setting pace.

The double-figure scorers were rounded out by the 13-point performance of junior guard Kenny Page (Indianapolis, Indiana) and the 10-point night of freshman center Brandon Hopf (Ferdinand, Indiana).

USI outrebounded KWC by one, 29-28, and was led by senior forward Marty Wise (New Orleans, Louisiana) and senior center Rashard Sullivan (Miami, Florida) with six each.

The Eagles hit the road to continue GLVC actions next week. USI plays at Saint Joseph's College December 7 in Rensselaer, Indiana, and at the University of Indianapolis December 9, in Indianapolis. Game time at SJC is 7:30 p.m., while tip-off at UIndy is 2 p.m. (CST).