BOX SCORE: USI 78, Rockhurst 71; Photo Gallery

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The 2nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team erased a nine-point first half deficit to win its homecoming game over Rockhurst University, 78-71, Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. USI raises its record to 21-0 overall and 12-0 in the GLVC, while Rockhurst falls to 14-9, 9-5 GLVC.

The Screaming Eagles are tied for the best record in men's collegiate basketball (21-0) and the longest winning streak (21) with NCAA Division II top-ranked Arkansas Tech University. Arkansas Tech defeated University of Arkansas-Monticello, 67-65.

Rockhurst opened the game with a bucket and led for most of the first half, building a nine-point advantage, 19-10, with 13:12 to play before halftime. The Eagles would scratch their way back in to the contest, cutting the deficit to two points, 19-17, and one point twice, 37-36 and 39-38. The Hawks would get the final tallies of the first half and led at the intermission, 41-38.

After the Hawks bumped the lead back to five points, 43-38, to open the second half, the Eagles rallied with an 11-0 run to lead to 49-43. USI would match Rockhurst's first half lead with nine-point advantages of its own, 61-52 and 64-55, midway through the final 20 minutes.

Rockhurst, however, rebounded offensively and retook the lead, 67-66, with 3:17 to play. The teams traded buckets and leads in the next two possessions, but USI senior guard Jamar Smtih (Peoria, Illinois) gave the Eagles the lead for good with a three-point field goal. Smith's bucket gave USI a two-point, 71-69, lead, an advantage the home team would not relinquish.

USI would seal the game at the line with senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Smith combining to hit five of six from the charity stripe. Rockhurst was one-of-six from the field in the final two minutes as the Eagles won, 78-71.

Smith led three Eagles in double-figure scoring with 24 points, 15 coming in the second half rally. Bradshaw followed with a double-double, 18 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, while senior guard Marvin Gray (Freeport, Bahamas) rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points.

USI junior guard Kevin Gant (Indianapolis, Indiana) dished out a game-high nine assists and made three steals. The final theft came in the final minute and resulted in a lay-up for Gant to put the Eagles up four, 73-69, with 51 second to play.

The Eagles return to road Tuesday when they travel to Drury University to play a rescheduled game. Start time in Springfield, Missouri, is 8 p.m. The Panther raised their record to 18-4 overall and 11-2 in the GLVC after winning on the road, 84-73, at the University of Indianapolis this afternoon.

USI leads the all-time series with Drury, 5-4, after sweeping the Panthers last season. USI won at the PAC, 84-71, and in Springfield, 76-69, in 2008-09.

FAN NOTE: The USI-Rockhurst men's and women's basketball games will be televised tape-delayed Sunday at 6 p.m. on WTSN, digital channel 36 (Insight Cable 186; Time Warner Cable 14).