#5 Southern Indiana (14-1, 3-1 GLVC): 79
Rockhurst (7-5, 1-4 GLVC): 64

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 5th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team opened GLVC West Division play with a 79-64 win over Rockhurst University Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI raises its record to 14-1 overall and 3-1 in the GLVC, while Rockhurst falls to 7-5 overall, 1-4 GLVC.

The score was close through the first nine minutes of the first half with each team posting a three-point lead. The Eagles took control 11-0 run at the midway point and never looked back. USI would go on to lead by as many as 13 points twice and led at the intermission, 37-28.

USI senior center Rashard Sullivan (Miami, Florida) led the Eagles in the first 20 minutes with 11 points, including the team's first seven points of the game. Sullivan would finish the game with 13 points.

The second half saw the Eagles extend the lead to 18 points twice in the first eight minutes. Rockhurst made a 10-0 run and cut the lead to eight, 60-52, with 10:31 to play.

USI would re-establish control and rebuild the lead to 19 points, 79-60, before settling for the 79-64 victory.

Eagles' junior guard Kenny Page (Indianapolis, Indiana) led the team with a game-high 16 points, 12 of them coming in the second half. Page and Sullivan were joined in double-figures by junior guard Kenny Love (South Bend, Indiana) and senior forward Geoff Van Winkle (Ferdinand, Indiana) with 15 points and 12 points, respectively, off the bench.

USI will play its first ranked opponent in 2006-07 when 24th-ranked Drury University comes to the PAC on Saturday. The Panthers, who are 10-3 and 3-2 GLVC, will be looking to get back on track after losing to Kentucky Wesleyan College, 62-53, at the Sports Center Thursday night. Game time Saturday is 3:15 p.m.