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Evansville, Ind. - No. 10 Southern Indiana has had the number of the Lewis University men's basketball team over the years, as the Screaming Eagles held a seven-game winning streak over the Flyers dating back to the 2007-08 campaign entering Thursday's Great Lakes Valley Conference showdown.

That streak came to an abrupt end, as Lewis, led by a game-high 20 points from sophomore guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield), earned the 63-59 GLVC victory over the host Eagles at USI's Physical Activities Center (PAC).

"That was a heck of a win," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "Everyone competed like crazy in the second half. I'm so proud of our guys. It was a gutty performance and I think we just put ourselves back in the thick of things."

With the win, Lewis improves to 13-7 overall and 7-5 in conference play, while the host Screaming Eagles are now 16-4 on the campaign and 9-3 in GLVC action. Southern Indiana entered Thursday's contest undefeated at home and had not lost in the PAC since January 19, 2012.

This is also the Flyers' second victory over a Top-10 team this season, as Lewis handed No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan a 75-71 defeat on January 24th. In both games, Lewis had a season-low 47 shot attempts.

Southern Indiana senior forward Keith DeWitt topped the Screaming Eagles with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Lawrence Thomas added 10 points.

Defensively, the Flyers were stout, as they held USI to their second-lowest point total of the season and a 36.8% (21-for-57) showing from the field and 12.5% (2-for-16) from three-point range. The Flyers, on the other hand, shot 46.8% (22-for-47) from the field and 50.0% (4-for-8) from three-point range. They only committed nine turnovers against USI.

The Flyers also received a solid performance from junior guard Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist/Missouri State), who chipped in a career-high 18  points and a game-high four assists off the bench.

Lewis was in control for much of this game, as they built an 11-point lead over USI, at 34-23 with 18:27 left in the contest.

The Screaming Eagles, as top-ranked teams are wont to do, scratched and clawed their way back to a one-point deficit at 56-55 with 1:49 remaining, following a pair of Kenyon Smith free throws. Thomas and junior forward Orlando Rutlledge keyed the Screaming Eagles with eight points apiece during that run.

Jackson and Thomas both traded jumpers, as the Flyers maintained a 58-57 lead with 1:09 left in the game.

Following a missed jumper by Valla and a Smith rebound, Flyer sophomore guard Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton) (Lyons, Ill./Morton) picked Thomas' pocket and fed the ball to Valla. Valla was immediately fouled by Rutledge, sending him to the line.

Valla hit both of his charity tosses with 21 seconds remaining to extend the Flyers' lead to 60-57.

On the ensuing possession, DeWitt would gather in an offensive rebound and put it back to bridge the gap at 60-59 with 11 seconds left.

Valla would once again be fouled on their next possession, and would split his free throws, pushing the Flyers ahead 61-59 with nine ticks remaining. That would give USI a chance for either the game-tying or winning shot at the buzzer.

Thomas attempted a three-pointer, but missed and Valla grabbed the rebound with one second left. He was fouled, and hit both of his free throws to clinch the game for the Flyers.

Lewis returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 9), as the Flyers head to Owensboro, Ky., to square off with No. 23 Kentucky Wesleyan for a 3 PM tip-off.