#3 Southern Indiana (22-2, 11-2 GLVC): 74
@Kentucky Wesleyan (6-14, 3-10 GLVC): 58

OWENSBORO, Ky.—With senior forward/center Chris Thompson (Starke, Florida) sitting on the bench with four fouls and the game tied at 50, the No. 3-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team grinded out a 9-0 run to pull away from its arch-rival, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and post a 74-58 victory Saturday night at the Sportscenter.

The Screaming Eagles (22-2, 11-2 GLVC) started the run with a three-pointer from junior guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana) and finished it with a layup by junior forward/center Keith Christmas (Gary, Indiana). The run lasted more than four minutes and put the Eagles firmly in control of the contest.

KWC's senior forward DeWayne Rogers broke the run with a three-pointer with 6:51 to play and it looked as if the Panthers were on the comeback once again. Earlier in the half, KWC had back from a seven point deficit after cutting a nine-point first-half deficit to one at the break.

However, the Eagles countered the KWC three-pointer by reeling off six straight points to take a commanding 65-53 lead with three minutes remaining in the game.Thompson capped the run with a layup and finished the contest with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds, marking his 12th double-double of the season. Thompson scored 16 points in the opening period as the Eagles grabbed a 36-35 advantage at the intermission.

Senior guard Danny Gibson (Madison, Indiana) scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half, while Christmas and senior guard David Bryant (Louisville, Kentucky) each finished with nine points.

Rogers led KWC (6-14, 3-10 GLVC) with 15 points and nine rebounds, while senior center Jeremiah Coleman and freshman guard Alvin Lewis each had 13 points. Lewis also had a game-high seven assists.

USI returns to action Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Drury University at the Physical Activities Center. Drury (14-6, 9-4 GLVC) defeated Lewis University, 81-61, Saturday in Springfield, Missouri.