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Shy Ely, Jason Holsinger and Nate Garner play their final regular season home game Wednesday in a contest that could go a long way in determining whether the Purple Aces finish in the top half of the Missouri Valley Conference. Fifth place UE (16-11, 7-9) hosts fourth place Bradley (16-12, 9-7) at 7:05 CST, and good seats remain.

THE TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW...UE VS. BRADLEY FEB. 25

1. Wednesday's game is Senior Night for UE's Shy Ely (18.1 ppg), Jason Holsinger (12.7) and Nate Garner (10.1). Evansville is the only Missouri Valley Conference team whose top three scorers are seniors. Holsinger and Ely are one-two among active Valley players in career scoring with 1,399 and 1,326 points, respectively. All three will speak to the fans immediately after the game.

2. Jason Holsinger and Shy Ely have combined for 40, 56 and 41 points in their last three games. Ely has scored 20 or more in four straight games. Holsinger has scored 20 or more in his last three games.

3. In their 30 previous Senior Nights at the Division I level, the Aces are 21-9. However, they have lost two in a row and four of the last five. Bradley came into Roberts Stadium on Senior Night two years ago and beat the Aces 72-71.

4. It’s been four years since Evansville has beaten Bradley, winning 76-66 at Roberts Stadium on Feb. 16, 2005. The Braves won 86-79 less than two weeks ago at Peoria behind the 26 points of Theron Wilson. That was the second highest point total against the Aces by an opposing player this season. Bradley won the game at the free throw line, hitting 30 of 37 compared to 22 of 28 by UE. Bradley now leads the series 20-13.

5. Evansville’s longest losing streaks against MVC opponents are with the two teams they play this week to finish the regular season. Bradley has won seven in a row against the Aces. Northern Iowa has won eight straight.

6. Now that the Aces have clinched their first winning season since 2000, their next goal is to finish in the top half of the MVC for the first time since 2003. If UE remains tied for fifth with Wichita State and Drake, UE will be the #5 seed (3-1 against the other two), Wichita State #6 (2-2) and Drake #7 (1-3). Only one game separates fifth place from ninth place. Finishing in the top six keeps the Aces out of the first round games (7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9) in the State Farm MVC Tournament for the first time since 2003.

7. After failing to shoot 50 percent as a team in 12 straight MVC games, the Aces have now topped 50 percent four games in a row. They shot a season-high 58 percent Saturday (25-for-43), coming from 15 down to win by 14 in a 75-61 ESPNU BracketBusters victory over Miami.

8. The Aces are the nation’s sixth most improved team, according to the latest Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). The Aces’ current RPI is 86, fourth best in the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished 251st last year in Marty Simmons’ first year as head coach. Here are the Valley RPI rankings: 47. Creighton; 58. Illinois State; 82. Northern Iowa; 86. Evansville; 95. Bradley; 128. Drake; 146. Wichita State; 160. Southern Illinois; 196. Missouri State; 207. Indiana State.

9. UE has nominated Jason Holsinger and Pieter van Tongeren for the MVC?All-Academic Team, James Haarsma and Kavon Lacey for the All-Bench Team, and Nate Garner for the Most Improved Team. Those three awards along with all-conference, all-newcomer, all-freshmen and player of the year honors (schools do not submit nominees for those awards) will be announced March 4. Coach of the Year will be announced March 5.

10. UE players in the MVC’s top five this week: Shy Ely–#1 in scoring (18.1), #2 in minutes played (34.6), #2 in defensive rebounds (4.9); Kaylon Williams– #2 in assists (4.7), #3 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), #5 in steals (1.6); Jason Holsinger–#4 in 3-pointers per game (2.1), #4 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7), #4 in minutes played (33.6); Nate Garner–#5 in FG% (.521); #5 in offensive rebounds (2.3).

For a look at the complete game notes, click on the Bradley Game Notes link on the men's basketball page here at GoPurpleAces.com.