Southern Indiana 74, SIU Edwardsville 69

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team used a 9-0 run in the final four minutes to defeat Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 74-69, Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. The victory raised the Screaming Eagles' record to 10-7 overall and 4-5 in the GLVC, breaking the team's five-game losing streak, while the Cougars fell to 8-8 overall, 2-7 GLVC.

Trailing 69-65 with 3:36 to play, USI senior forward/centerNorman Plummer (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the winning 9-0 run by scoring the final seven points of the game. The seven points were a part of Plummer's game-high 25 points.

Plummer was followed in the scoring column by senior guard Tyson Schnitker (Robinson, Illinois), who had 12 points. Schnitker scored 10 of the 12 points during the second half offensive surge.

USI used an improved perimeter defense in the second half to spur the offensive run. The Eagles allowed just two three-point field goals in the second half, compared to seven in the first 20 minutes. The final five-point margin also was USI's biggest lead of the game.

In the first half, the Eagles struggled on defense as the Cougars shot 61.5 percent from the field and jumped out to a nine-point lead twice in the final three minutes of the half. USI battled back to cut the lead back to five points, 44-39, by the intermission.

The second half saw the Cougars re-extend the lead to eight points, 55-47, before the Eagles began to chip away again. USI took its first lead of the second half at 58-57 only to see SIUE bounce back into the lead. SIUE took a 69-65 lead with 3:36 to play, setting the stage for the final USI run.

The Eagles return to the road next week when they travel to Drury University on January 31 and to Rockhurst University on February 2.