Boxscore
WICHITA, Kan. -- J.T. Durley scored eight points in overtime and second place Wichita State avoided being swept in the season series by the University of Evansville Wednesday night as the Shockers edged the Aces 76-70 in front of a Koch Arena crowd of 10,410.
The loss came despite a career-high 23 points from freshman Ned Cox, who scored 21 after halftime. Classmate Colt Ryan added 17 and Clint Hopf scored 14 for the Purple Aces (7-19, 1-15 Missouri Valley Conference). Durley had 16 to lead the Shockers (22-6, 11-5), who lost eight days earlier to Evansville at Roberts Stadium, 65-62.
"I'm really proud of the way our guys played against a very good team, and in a place that's very difficult to play in," said Coach Marty Simmons. "We put ourselves in position to win; we just couldn't quite pull it off."
Wichita State is now 16-0 in Koch Arena this season.
After a quick 8-0 burst by the Shockers to begin the game, Evansville used its defense to eventually tie the contest at 20-20 on a Kavon Lacey basket in the final four minutes of the half. Wichita State took a 26-24 lead into halftime but Evansville grabbed its first lead of the game at 31-29 on a James Haarsma basket with 17:24 to play. The Aces extended their lead to six at 40-34 on Ned Cox's three-pointer with 12:10 to go before Wichita State got back into the game with a 10-4 run to tie it up at 44-44.
J.T. Durly's three-point play gave Wichita a 51-46 lead, and after Colt Ryan scored for Evansville, the Shockers scored five straight points on David Kyles' slam and Clevin Hannah's three-point play to go up 56-48 with 2:15 left. But Evansville wasn't finished. Ryan hit three free throws to cut the margin to five at 56-51 with 2:02 left, and Cox's three-pointer made it 57-54 with 1:25 remaining. Cox came right back with a layup to bring UE to within one point at 57-56 with 37 seconds to go. With 27 seconds left, Wichita's Toure Murry went 0-for-2 at the line, setting up Evansville's chance to win the game. Cox was fouled from 30 feet away with 0.3 seconds to go, in the act of shooting. He missed the first, hit the second and hit the third to tie the game and send it into overtime.
But Wichita State never trailed in OT, jumping ahead 61-58 on a three-pointer by Hannah and 66-60 on a three-pointer by Durley. The Aces cut the margin to 68-65 on two Ryan free throws, but the Shockers scored the next five points to finally seal the win and avoid the Evansville sweep,
The Aces play their final two home games in the week ahead: Saturday against UIC in an ESPN Bracketbusters game at 7:05, and next Tuesday against MVC champion Northern Iowa at 7:05.
