ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — A stagnant offense and a cascade of self-inflicted errors doomed Tennessee Tech on Thursday night, while Southern Indiana’s backcourt duo of Ismail Habib and Cardell Bailey ignited a decisive second-half surge to snap a five-game losing streak.

The Screaming Eagles, who entered the contest with just three wins, methodically pulled away from the Golden Eagles in the final 20 minutes for a 71-54 victory in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game at Eblen Center.

The game’s pivotal shift came after a first half that ended in a 27-27 deadlock. Southern Indiana emerged from the break with immediate purpose. Habib, a junior guard from Chicago, drilled a 3-pointer on the opening possession, setting a tone of aggression that Tennessee Tech could never match. That shot sparked a 17-3 Screaming Eagle run over the first seven minutes of the second half, transforming a tie game into a commanding 44-30 lead.

Tennessee Tech, which shot a frigid 3 for 20 from beyond the arc for the game, went scoreless for over four minutes during that stretch. The Golden Eagles compounded their shooting woes with careless ball-handling, committing 12 turnovers that Southern Indiana converted into 15 points. By contrast, the Screaming Eagles were remarkably secure, giving the ball away only three times.

Habib was the engine for Southern Indiana, finishing with a game-high 21 points and seven assists in 34 minutes. His penetration and playmaking consistently broke down the Tennessee Tech defense. He found a perfect partner in Bailey, a sophomore from Detroit who scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half. Bailey’s scoring burst included a pair of emphatic dunks that punctuated the Screaming Eagles’ dominance, one off a Habib feed and another following a steal.

The Golden Eagles, who had been installed as six-point favorites, never recovered from the second-half onslaught. They managed only 27 points after halftime, mirroring their first-half output, and finished with an offensive rating of just 77.0 points per 100 possessions. JaJuan Nicholls provided a bright spot for the home team with 16 points, but Tennessee Tech’s backcourt struggled mightily. Starters Ty Owens and Malik Ferguson combined to shoot 6 of 21 from the field.

Southern Indiana’s defensive presence was anchored by 6-foot-11 freshman Devin Curtis of Milwaukee, who swatted four shots and altered several others. The Screaming Eagles also controlled the glass, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 12 second-chance points.

The victory improved Southern Indiana to 4-12 overall and 1-2 in OVC play, offering a respite during a difficult season. The loss dropped Tennessee Tech to 7-11 and 1-2 in the conference, continuing a pattern of inconsistency.

Both teams return to action on Saturday. Southern Indiana travels to face Tennessee State, while Tennessee Tech remains at home to host Morehead State.