ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's men's basketball team dropped a 74-65 decision against Southern Indiana on Thursday evening at Neil Carey Arena. The Flyers fall to 6-5 overall and in the GLVC while the Screaming Eagles improve to 6-3 overall and in the GLVC.

Lewis started fast hitting seven of its first 10 shots from the floor and led by six with 13:40 to go in the opening half after a three-pointer from Austin Boucher (Fort Wayne, Ind./Fort Wayne North Side).

USI fought back with a 15-8 run over the next seven-plus minutes to take a 26-25 after a pair of free throws from Mateo Rivera. The two sides exchanged leads over the next minute until Dre Bell (Detroit, Mich./River Rouge) hit a three sparking an 11-2 run for the Flyers as they took a 38-30 lead into halftime.

Lewis extended its lead to as many as 11 on its first possession of the second half as Bruno Williams (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) converted an old-fashioned three-point play.

The Screaming Eagles chipped away and eventually retook the lead with a 20-4 run over the next eight-plus minutes. The Flyers were held scoreless during the final five minutes of that run.

Lewis evened things at 50 on a jumper by Williams and three from Connor Niego (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) but couldn't get over the hump as Rivera hit a three on the ensuing possession to give USI the lead right back.

That lead grew to eight after a three-pointer from Jelani Simmons with 5:43 remaining but the Flyers got back-to-back three's from Trevian Bell (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) and Beau Frericks (Cary, Ill./Cary Grove) to cut the lead to two with 4:03 left in the contest.

Emmanuel Little made four free throws sandwiched around one from T. Bell to extend the lead to 65-60 with less than three minutes to go. D. Bell brought Lewis back to within 65-63 with a three from the top of the key and then after a stop on the other end T. Bell had a chance to tie the score with 68 ticks remaining but missed a layup.

On the ensuing possession Simmons hit a three from the right corner to extend the lead and then USI put the game away at the foul line hitting six straight free throws in the final minute.

The Flyers shot 36.4 percent (24-for-66) from the field in the contest, were 11-of-32 from three and shot 50 percent at the foul line. Williams and T. Bell led Lewis with 15 points apiece while Niego finished with 12 points.

The Screaming Eagles had three players reach double figures in scoring led by Simmons with 24 points. Little dropped in 19 and Josh Price finished with 17. USI shot 42 percent (23-for-55) from the floor, was 9-of-24 from three and shot 91 percent at the charity stripe. It outrebounded Lewis 44-34 in the contest.

The Flyers conclude their three-game homestand on Saturday hosting Indianapolis at 3 p.m.