#17 Southern Indiana (24-5, 13-5 GLVC): 97
Missouri-Rolla (2-25, 0-19 GLVC): 60

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team got back on track Thursday night, defeating the University of Missouri-Rolla, 97-60, at the Physical Activities Center. USI raises its record to 24-5 overall and 13-5 GLVC, while UMR finishes the year 2-25, 0-19 GLVC.

The USI victory, combined with a loss by division leader Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and second place Drury University, gives the Screaming Eagles a chance to place as high as second in the GLVC West. A USI win in the season-finale over University of Missouri-St. Louis and a loss by Drury and Quincy University will put the Eagles into the number two slot in the West Division.

Trailing by four with 9:20 left in the first half, the Eagles took control of the game with a 15-0 run and led at the half, 45-27. USI extended the lead early in the second half, flying out to lead 70-32 lead on a 25-5 run with 11:21 to play in the game.

USI junior guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana) led the squad off the bench with 16 points, including four three-point field goals. Hall was followed in the scoring column by senior forward Chris Thompson (Starke, Florida), who had 15 points.

Junior forward Nick Brooks (Robinson, Illinois) also dropped in 13 points, while junior forward Geoff Van Winkle (Ferdinand, Indiana) and junior guard/forward Marty Wise (New Orleans, Louisiana) scored 11 points each.

Wise completed his second double-double of the year with a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Eagles complete the homestand and the 2005-06 home schedule Saturday against UMSL at 3:15 p.m. The Rivermen, who were idle tonight, are 14-12 overall and 7-11 in the GLVC.