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Evansville, Ind. - If the season series between the Lewis University men's basketball team and No. 18 Southern Indiana was any indication of how Thursday night's Great Lakes Valley Conference Quarterfinal match-up was going to play out - then the 1,442 fans at the Ford Center were going to be in for a treat.

After all, both the Flyers and Screaming Eagles each won games on the road with the contests decided by a total of five points.

Both teams did not disappoint, as the third-seeded Screaming Eagles fought off a furious Lewis surge from a 12-point, second-half deficit that forced overtime, but USI scored the first eight points in the extra session, as they claimed the 88-80 win over the sixth-seeded Flyers.

"We made some good plays tonight and we missed some shots that we usually make, but you have to give USI credit," Lewis head men's basketball coach Scott Trost said. "I thought our guys competed. A shot here and a shot there, and it's a different outcome.

"I'm proud of our effort."

USI senior center Keith DeWitt (25 points, 12 rebounds) and junior forward Orlando Rutledge (19 points, 15 rebounds) each collected double-doubles to lead the Screaming Eagles. UIS also received 13 points from Lawrence Thomas and 12 points, six assists, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks from senior guard Kenyon Smith.

Southern Indiana's performance on the glass played a key role in the victory, as the Screaming Eagles grabbed 51 rebounds (15 offensive) to Lewis' 26 caroms. USI outscored Lewis, 21-10, in second-chance points.

With the win, Southern Indiana improves to 21-6 and will take on second-seeded UW-Parkside in the GLVC Semifinals at 2:30 PM on Saturday (March 9).

Lewis sophomore guard Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield) made it difficult for the Screaming Eagles, as he posted a game-high 30 points, including a career-high five steals.

Lewis senior guard David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) and sophomore forward David Niggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) each knocked down four three-pointers for the Flyers. Bryant finished with 16 points and four assists, while Niggins had a career-high 14 points and four rebounds. As a team, Lewis was 11-for-30 from long range. 

Southern Indiana led for a majority of the game and built their biggest lead at 59-47 with 10:47 remaining in regulation, following a three-pointer by Ben Jones (7 points).

The Flyers, however, would not go away so easily, as they responded with a 21-9 run over the next nine minutes and tied the game up at 68-apiece on a Jackson jumper. Niggins led the charge for Lewis during that run, as he collected eight points - including two three-pointers.

DeWitt answered on the ensuing possession with a leaning jumper to give USI a 70-68 lead with 58 ticks remaining in regulation.

Bryant answered DeWitt's heroics with some of his own, as he knocked down a jumper from the elbow with 31 seconds left in the stanza. USI had two chances to win the game as time expired, before Niggins stole the ball from DeWitt as the buzzer sounded.

The overtime session was all Southern Indiana, as the Screaming Eagles scored the first eight points and were never challenged the rest of the way.

Southern Indiana enjoyed a sizeable advantage at the free throw line, as they made 19-of-31 free throws, while the Flyers managed only eight free throws for the entire evening.

Lewis, however, was strong on the defensive end, as they forced 20 turnovers, nine of which DeWitt committed, which led to 23 points.

The Flyers fall to 19-9 on the campaign and will now await word on whether they have qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament. The selection show will take place at www.ncaa.com at 9:30 PM on Sunday (March 10).