Boxscore

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- A tight game that produced 15 lead changes went Evansville's way in the final three minutes here Saturday night, and the result was a 63-55 win for the Purple Aces over Eastern Illinois in the ESPN Bracketbuster game.

The Aces improved their final non-conference record to 6-5, and improved their overall record to 9-18.  UE has now won three of its last six games.  The Panthers of EIU are now 5-22.

"Our assistant coaches did a great job of preparing us for a non-conference team," said coach Marty Simmons.  "There is no quit in our team.  We're going to keep pushing and keep pushing.  We responded in the second half.  Give the guys credit for the way we finished the game."

Saturday's game was the first since Feb. 9 for second leading Evansville scorer Jason Holsinger, who suffered a fractured right hand that night at Drake.  Holsinger, a junior guard, led the Aces in scoring with 14 points, including 12 in the second half.  Junior forward Shy Ely added 10 points, also scoring all but two of his points in the second half.  Freshman guard Kavon Lacey scored six of his 10 points in the final three minutes.

The Aces went ahead for good on Pieter van Tongeren's two free throws with three minutes to play, went up by four on Lacey's layup, and after the Panthers cut the lead to two, Ely gave the Aces a 57-53 advantage with 1:12 to go.  Evansville's defense did just as well in the final minute, holding the Panthers to only one bucket in the final minute.  Lacey scored another bucket, and free throws by him and Holsinger sewed up the Aces' victory.


Evansville plays two more games to close out the regular season prior to the State Farm MVC Tourney.  The Aces play at Wichita State Tuesday, and host Northern Iowa next Saturday at 7:05 on Senior Night at Roberts Stadium.