Even though SIU Edwardsville dropped a 75-70 thriller to No. 13 Southern Indiana Thursday at the Vadalabene Center, there is reason for SIUE fans to celebrate.
         For the first time since the 1998-1999 season, the SIUE men's basketball team has qualified for the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament. The Cougars were assured the bid after they learned Bellarmine and Missouri-St. Louis both lost their games.
         The Cougars fall to 13-11 overall and 9-9 in the GLVC with the USI loss, which puts them in sixth-place overall. Southern Indiana, ranked 13th in the latest NCAA Division II poll, improves to 20-4 overall and 13-4 in GLVC play.
         Tim Bauersachs nabbed his first double-double of his career with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Calvin Sykes led the Cougars for the fourth consecutive game with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
         Avery Queen and Mike Arnold each scored 15 for Southern Indiana, which included clutch three pointers down the stretch.
         Overall, SIUE shot 45 percent as a team. Southern Indiana netted 39 percent of its shots.
         SIUE will next be in action Saturday when it faces rival Missouri-St. Louis at the Vadalabene Center. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.
        
                -siue cougars-