Complete Game Notes
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The University of Evansville men's basketball team heads north on Highway 41 to play in Terre Haute Wednesday, and the Purple Aces hope that one trend continues. In each of the past five seasons, one team has swept the Evansville-Indiana State series. UE won both games in 2006, 2007 and 2009, while the Sycamores swept in 2008 and 2010. Evansville won this season's first meeting, coming back from a 17-point deficit at Roberts Stadium Jan. 1 to beat ISU 64-59. Kenneth Harris totaled 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Aces, and Colt Ryan added 15 points, four assists and three steals. The Aces made 10 steals and forced 22 Indiana State turnovers, helping them outscore the Sycamores 43-30 in the second half.
At the halfway point of the Missouri Valley Conference season, Evansville (10-9, 4-5) and Indiana State (12-8, 7-2) are the league’s top two teams in terms of exceeding expectations. The Sycamores are tied for second after being ranked seventh in the pre-season poll. The Aces are sixth after being picked 10th.
The Aces earned their 600th victory in 55 years at Roberts Stadium on Sunday in their 70-67 win over Bradley. UE is now 600-230 at Roberts, which will be replaced next season by the $127 million downtown arena currently under construction. A big send-off is planned at the Aces’ final game at Roberts, on Saturday, Feb. 26.
Center Pieter van Tongeren has scored in double figures in consecutive games for the first time since his freshman season in 2007-08. The 6'10" senior ranks number one in the Valley in field goal percentage at 65.2 percent. van Tongeren hit 12 of 17 shots in two games last week, and is the only player in the league shooting better than 60 percent.
UE players ranked among the MVC’s top five this week: Pieter van Tongeren #1 in field goal percentage (.652); Colt Ryan #3 in scoring (15.3), #4 in free throw percentage (.849), #4 in minutes played (32.8); #5 in 3-pointers per game (2.2); Kenneth Harris #4 in rebounding (7.2), #5 in steals (1.2); Kavon Lacey #4 in assist/turnover ratio (+1.5).
Kavon Lacey has 21 assists and just three turnovers in his last six games. The senior guard ranks fourth in the MVC with a +1.5 assist/turnover ratio. He ranks sixth in assists with 3.0 per game.
The Aces continue to win close games. Sunday’s win over Bradley improved their record to 6-2 in games decided by five points or less. They are 3-1 in 5-point-or-less outcomes in both non-conference games and MVC games.
