#18 Southern Indiana (13-2, 3-0 GLVC) 81, Saint Joseph's (7-4, 1-2 GLVC): 62
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.– The 18th-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team began 2009 with an 81-62 victory over Saint Joseph's College Friday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI raises its record to 13-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the GLVC, while Saint Joseph's falls to 7-4 overall, 1-2 GLVC.

The win also extends the USI winning streak to an even dozen and keeps the Screaming Eagles' record at home a perfect 10-0. The 12-game winning streak is the longest since the team posted 17straight in 2004-05.

A very close match-up to start the game, the Eagles used a 7-2 run in the final two minutes of the first half to lead 39-34 at the intermission. The first half featured three lead changes and five ties.

USI picked up the defense in the second half, outscoring Saint Joseph's 21-3 in the first nine minutes to post its largest lead of the game, 60-37. The Eagles would not lead by fewer than 17 points the rest of the way.

Two very big keys to the USI victory was a 43-23 lead in bench scoring and a 50-34 advantage in rebounding.

Off the bench, USI was led in scoring by junior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois). Bradshaw tied for the game-high with 14 points, while Smith posted a personal two-game high of 12 points.

USI junior guard Marvin Gray (Freeport, Bahamas) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.

On the boards, junior forward Jeron Lewis (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) led the USI rebounding attack with a season-best 13 rebounds. Bradshaw was second with seven boards off the bench.

The Eagles continue GLVC action at the PAC Sunday when the University of Indianapolis comes to town. UIndy, which is under the direction of first year head coach and former USI All-American Stan Gouard, fell to 5-7 overall and 0-3 in the GLVC with a 67-54 loss to Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky, tonight.