BOX SCORE: USI 84, IU Southeast 68

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team opened the Fern Valley Hotel Classic with an 84-68 victory over Indiana University Southeast Friday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky. USI raises its record to 7-0 overall, while IU Southeast falls to 8-3 in 2009-10.

The seventh straight victory to open the season marked the fifth time since 2000 that USI has started the year unblemished through the first seven games. The Screaming Eagles' best start ever was 16-0 in 2000-01.

The Eagles flew out of the gate against the Grenadiers with a 7-0 run and had a 14-2 lead after the first four minutes of the game. USI would extend the lead to as many as 25 points, 43-18, in the opening half before settling for the 44-24 lead at the intermission.

All 10 of the USI players that appeared in the first half scored, led by senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois) with 12 points. He was followed by senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo) with six points each.

In the second half, the Eagles re-extended the margin to 25 points, 62-37, with 11:41 to play. The Grenadiers, however, did not fade away as they cut the margin to 12 points, 75-63, with 1:46 left. USI's defense stiffened in the final 90 seconds as the Eagles finished with the 84-68 win.

Smith finished the game with a game-high 18 points, while Ntumba posted a season-best with 15 points. Smith and Ntumba also led the Eagles with seven rebounds each.

The Eagles continue the Fern Valley Hotel Classic Saturday 4 p.m. when they take on Ohio Valley University. USI returns to the friendly surroundings of the Physical Activities Center Monday when it hosts Lake Erie College for a 7:30 p.m. match-up.