Boxscore

PEORIA, Ill. --  Bradley won the free throw contest, and ultimately the game here Saturday afternoon, outscoring the University of Evansville 30-22 from the line to defeat the Aces 86-79.  The win moved the Braves (14-12, 8-7) into fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference and dropped Evansville to 15-10 overall and fifth in the league at 7-8.

The Aces are back in action Tuesday night at second place Creighton before beginning a two-game homestand next Saturday at 2:30 CST against Miami (Ohio) in an ESPNU BracketBusters game.

Neither team had scored 70 points in a game since late December, but Bradley scored 41 in the first half to take an eight-point lead at the break, 41-33. Evansville came back to tie the game 45-45 and 47-47, but never could get over the hump to take a lead in the second half.  Two free throws by Shy Ely brought UE to within three at 79-76 with 1:44 left, but Bradley scored the next four points at the free throw line to put the game out of reach.

The Aces ended up outscoring Bradley 46-45 in the second half.  The 91 points were the most scored in a half in a UE game this season.

Jason Holsinger and Shy Ely scored 20 each to lead the Aces, Nate Garner added 15 and Kavon Lacey scored 10.  Bradley's Theron Wilson led all scorers with 26, including 14 of 18 free throws.  Sam Maniscalco scored 16.  UE shot 53 percent (27-51) and hit 22 of 28 free throws.  The Braves shot 59 percent (25-42) and hit 30 of 37 from the line.