BOX SCORE: SIU 71, USI 69 | Photo Gallery

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana lost a 71-69 exhibition game at Southern Illinois University on a last second shot Saturday afternoon in Carbondale, Illinois. USI goes to 0-1 in the preseason, while SIU rises to 2-0.

The Screaming Eagles controlled the first half of the game and led at the intermission, 33-29. Senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois) led USI in the opening 20 minutes with 12 points, while senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior forward Nick Duncheon (Montgomery, Indiana) followed with seven points and six points, respectively.

USI, which never trailed in the first half, led by as many as nine points, 23-14, with 6:09 left before halftime.

The Eagles continued to control the game until the halfway point of the final half and had a 10-point lead, 53-43, with 9:45 left. The Salukis went on a 13-0 run with 9:17 to play and took their first lead of the contest, 56-53, with just over six minutes left.

After USI rallied to tie the game at 56-56, the game had three lead changes and five ties in the final five minutes. The Eagles regained the lead twice in the final two minutes at 66-65 and 69-67, propelled by the offensive explosion by Smith.

Smith, who had been held scoreless in second half until the 4:50 mark, scored 11 points in the final five minutes to keep USI in the game and give the Eagles a chance with the 69-67 lead in the last 74 seconds. He would finish the night with a game-high 23 points.

The Salukis tied the score at 69-69 on a pair of free throws and set the stage for their last second game-winner. SIU center Nick Evans tipped in a shot with less than one second to give the Salukis a 71-69 victory.

In addition to Smith, Duncheon topped the 20-point plateau with 21 on seven three-point field goals. The junior forward was 7-of-11 from the field, 7-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Bradshaw also reached double-digits in scoring with 11 points and had six rebounds. Senior forward Isaac Stoll (Washington, Indiana) led the team with seven rebounds.

The Eagles finish the exhibition schedule November 14 when they host Centre College for a 3:15 p.m. contest at the Physical Activities Center. USI opens the 2009 regular season campaign November 21 when it hosts Harris-Stowe State University.