Eagles reach 20 wins in 2013-14
 
Final Score: #20 USI 103, 92
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana senior forwards Orlando Rutledge (Louisville, Kentucky) and Aaron Nelson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) combined for 50 points as the 20^th-ranked Screaming Eagles defeated Saint Joseph's College, 103-92, in Rensselaer, Indiana. USI gets back on track at 20-5 overall and 12-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while Saint Joseph's falls to 4-23, 1-16 GLVC.
 
The victory marks the 21^st time in the last 22 years that USI has reached the 20-win plateau.
 
The Screaming Eagles took control in the first half when they used a 24-10 run to post its largest lead of the first half, 44-28, with 6:55 remaining before halftime. Rutledge and junior forward Alex Marzette (Racine, Wisconsin) scored six points each during the offensive surge. Rutledge would go on to finish the opening stanza with 17 points, hitting five-of-nine from field.
 
Saint Joseph's was able to slow the USI momentum in the opening 20 minutes, slicing the Eagles' advantage to seven points, 46-39, with 3:14 on the clock. The Eagles recovered from the Pumas offensive surge and went into the locker room leading by 11 points, 53-42.
 
The Pumas were able to get the Eagles margin back under 10 points during the first five minutes of the second half when USI doubled up Saint Joseph's on a 28-14 run. The run put the Eagles up by 20 points, 88-66, with 5:59 to play.
 
USI, however, had to withstand another surge by Saint Joseph's, which knocked the margin down to eight points, 97-89, with 41 ticks left on the clock. USI senior guard Lawrence Thomas (Springfield, Illinois) and senior forward Chuck Jones (Madisonville, Kentucky) were able to take the wind out of the Pumas' sails by hitting six-of-eight free throws in the final 40 seconds and clinch the 103-92 win.
 
Rutledge would add 13 points to his first half total and finish the game with a team-high and season-best 30 points. Nelson also had 13 second half points and finished the contest with 20 points to follow Rutledge in the scoring column.
 
The duo also posted double-doubles with Nelson pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds and Rutledge grabbing 10 boards.
 
In addition to Nelson and Rutledge, junior guard Gavin Schumann (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Marzette dropped in 12 points and 11 points, respectively, to round out the double-digit scorers.  
 
USI completes the 2013-14 schedule Thursday at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Bellarmine University for Senior Night. The Eagles won the first meeting with the Knights back in January, 68-66, in overtime at Knights Hall.