#6 Southern Indiana (24-3, 13-3 GLVC): 73
SIU Edwardsville (13-12, 8-9 GLVC): 54

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 6th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team clinched at least a share of the GLVC West Division title with a 73-54 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. The Screaming Eagles can win the division crown outright with a victory over 25th-ranked Quincy University on Saturday at the PAC. Game time is 3:15 p.m.

USI, which raised its record to 24-3 overall and 13-3 in the GLVC, used a 12-2 run midway through the first half to take control of the game and never look back. The Eagles would led by as many as 14 points several times during the first stanza before settling for a 35-25 margin at the intermission.

Eagles' senior forward Geoff Van Winkle (Ferdinand, Indiana) caught fire in the second half to help USI pull away. Van Winkle scored 15 of his game-high 18 points on five three-point field goals in the final half.

The victory also made Van Winkle the winningest player in USI history. He has been a part of 106 victories over the last four years (2003-07). The best four-year span for the Eagles had been 105 wins between 1993-97.

USI junior guard Kenny Page (Indianapolis, Indiana) followed Van Winkle in the scoring column with 15 points, while senior forward Nick Brooks (Robinson, Illinois) dropped in 11 points off the bench.

With his sixth double-double of the year, senior center Rashard Sullivan (Miami, Florida) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points. He completed his double-double with 13 rebounds, reaching that season-high for the third time this season.

Sullivan's sixth double-double tied senior forward Marty Wise (New Orleans, Louisiana) for the team lead this season.

The Eagles complete the 2006-07 home schedule Saturday against Quincy. USI will honor its six seniors – Van Winkle, Brooks, Wise, Sullivan, guard Melvin Hall (Evansville, Indiana), and forward Keith Christmas (Gary, Indiana) – prior to the game.