#2 Southern Indiana (9-0, 2-0 GLVC): 96
Saint Joseph's (3-2, 1-1 GLVC): 86

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team converted 26-of-31 free throws in the second half to win 96-86 at Saint Joseph's College Thursday evening in Rensselaer, Indiana. USI raises its records to 9-0 overall and 2-0 in the GLVC, while SJC falls to 3-2 overall, 1-1 GLVC.

The Screaming Eagles scored the first bucket of the game and never trailed en route to the victory. USI jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the opening minutes before SJC could get onto the score board.

The Pumas would cut the lead to 7-5 before the Eagles would use a 17-4 run to post their first 16-point lead of the first half, 24-8. SJC fought back into the game to trail by six, 26-20, with 6:46 left before halftime.

USI re-established control of the contest with a 17-7 run in the final five minutes of the first half to re-extend the lead to 16 points, 43-27, at the intermission.

The Eagles enlarged the lead briefly in the second half to 23 points, 50-27, when the Pumas began to chip away. SJC would get as close as eight points, 94-86, with 17 seconds to play before USI sealed the victory. USI was a perfect eight-of-eight from the line in the final minute and 16-of-18 in the final two minutes to hold off SJC.

USI junior guard Kenny Page (Indianapolis, Indiana) led the way for the Eagles with a season-high 21 points. Page was followed by senior guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana), who had 17 points, and senior center Rashard Sullivan (Miami, Florida), who dropped in 16 points. Senior forward/center Keith Christmas (Gary, Indiana) and junior guard Kenny Love (South Bend, Indiana) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11 points each.

The Eagles conclude the first conference road trip of the year Saturday afternoon at the University of Indianapolis. Game time is 2 p.m. (CST).