EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The city of Evansville may have welcomed back Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Coach Marty Simmons, but Southern Indiana didn't.
       Southern Indiana used five players in double figures in defeating SIUE 95-64 in front of a crowd of 2,400 at the Activities Center.
       With the Cougars fourth straight loss, they dropped to 7-11 overall and 3-8 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. USI, ranked fifth in the Great Lakes Region, improved to 14-4 and 9-3.
       SIUE was behind early with a 43-25 deficit at halftime. The Cougars shot just 30 percent in the first half.
       The Cougars also struggled overall on the boards, allowing 21 USI offensive rebounds. The Screaming Eagles scored 27 on second-chance points.
       SIUE's offense came from Ron Jones and Justin Ward. Jones, who is 14th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage, hit 3 of 6 from beyond the arc and completed the game with 16 points. Ward picked up 12 points and two blocks.
       Billy Harris led the Screaming Eagles with 20 points.
       The Cougars now head to Owensboro, Ky., where they take on Kentucky Wesleyan in a 3:30 p.m. contest at the Owensboro Sportscenter on Saturday.
              -siue cougars-