Highland Heights, Ky. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville won its eighth straight game, that ties the longest winning streak since the 1989-90 season, defeating Northern Kentucky 65-59 in Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.
         For the second game in a row Dan Heimos was one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks. SIUE improves to 9-2 overall, and for first time ever the Cougars start the season with a 4-0 record in conference play. The Norse drop to 5-4 overall, 2-4 in GLVC play.
         The win ties SIUE's longest winning streak in 15 seasons, now the Cougars are two wins from tying the second longest winning streak in school history, 10 games, set during the 1986-87 season.
         Northern Kentucky led SIUE 29-28 after one half of play. The Cougars started the second half with a 13-2 run over to lead 42-31 with 16:02 left in the game. The Norse countered that with a 13-0 run of their own over the next 4:19 to take a 44-42 lead. The two teams would trade buckets and it was 47-47 with 9:04 to go.
         SIUE then outscored Northern Kentucky 18-12 over that stretch, and Michael Sams would hit five of six free throws in the final minutes to seal the win for the Cougars.
         Joel Jaye chipped in 15 points for SIUE. Justin Ward had 11 points, and Tim Bauersachs added six rebounds and five assists. SIUE shot 48.9 percent from the field, while the Norese were held to just 38.6 percent. The teams each had 33 rebounds.
         Mike Kelsey led the way for Northern Kentucky shooting six of 15 from the field for 18 points.
         This was the fifth time this season that SIUE has held an opponent under 60 points as the Cougars hold a 5-0 record in those games. SIUE is giving up an average of 58.5 points per game.
         SIUE will head to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Hoops-N-Surf Classic to face Dominican and Washburn on Dec. 19 and 20. The Cougars' next Great Lakes Valley Conference game comes on Dec. 30 at Bellarmine.
                  -siue cougars-