EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team stumbled down the stretch and lost to 22^nd-ranked University of Indianapolis, 82-78, Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center. USI goes to 13-7 overall and 5-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while UIndy sees its record go to 15-3, 9-1 GLVC.
 
The Screaming Eagles came out firing in the opening half, building a 25-15 lead at the 8:01 mark. UIndy would chip its way back into the contest and used a 10-3 run in the final three minutes to lead at halftime, 41-40. Junior forward T.J. Tidell (Cape Girardeau, Missouri) propelled the Eagles in the first half with 11 points on three-of-four from the field and five-of-seven from the charity stripe.
 
In the second half, USI and UIndy battled back and forth as the lead would change hands six times, while the GLVC rivals tied each other an additional 12 times. The Eagles had their chance to pull away in the final 10 minutes, leading by five points, 70-65, with 6:58 left.
 
The Greyhounds, however, would win the final three minutes for a second-straight half, outscoring the Eagles, 7-2, to get the victory. UIndy scored the final four points of the contest on free throws in the last 1:27, while USI missed its final four three-point field goal attempts.
 
Overall, USI shot 46.8 percent (29-62) from the field, but was only able to connect on 19 percent from long range (4-21). The Eagles and the Greyhounds were tied 33-33 in rebounds and 12-12 in turnovers.
 
USI freshman guard Alex Stein (Evansville, Indiana) led five Eagles in double-figures with 18 points. He was six-of-nine from the field and six-of-six from the line.
 
Senior forward George Edwards (Chicago, Illinois) followed with 15 points, hitting seven-of-10 from the field, while junior guard Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky) was third with 12 points. Tisdell and senior guard Travis Britt (Rantoul, Illinois) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points each.
 
USI concludes the short two-game homestand Saturday at 3:15 p.m. when it hosts Saint Joseph's College for the annual "Hoops for the Troop" and the Coaches vs. Cancer "Suites and Sneakers" game.
 
The "Hoops for Troops" game is the USI's annual military appreciation game with free tickets going to veterans or active duty military personnel with a valid military identification and their guests. Tickets will be available at the PAC.
 
USI Men's Basketball's "Suites and Sneaker" promotion is a part of the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coaches vs. Cancer campaign to bring awareness of the fight against all cancers.
 
Saint Joseph's saw its record go to 8-11, 4-6 GLVC, after falling at #10 (NABC)/#11 (D2SIDA) Bellarmine University, 113-60. The Pumas have lost four of their last five games.
 
USI leads the all-time series with Saint Joseph's, 52-20, and has a 13-1 advantage in the games in the PAC since 2000. The Eagles swept the Pumas in 2014-15, winning 78-66 on the road and 90-65 at home.