Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Five Aces finished in double figures as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team officially opened up the Ford Center and the 2011-12 season with a wild 80-77 overtime win against Butler on Saturday afternoon.
 
“Overall, you saw a bunch of guys competing very hard against each other.  It was one of those games where you hate to see anybody lose, everyone played so hard,” head coach Marty Simmons said.  “We’re thrilled to death to come out on top.”
 
Colt Ryan led all players with 23 points while Jordan Jahr and Denver Holmes tallied 15.  Lewis Jones finished with 12 points while Kenneth Harris had 10.
 
A defensive battle ensued early in the first half as the teams combined to miss their first six shots before Khyle Marshall hit a layup to give Butler (0-1) a 6-4 lead with 15:41 left in the first half.  Jahr responded with a bucket of his own as UE (1-0) would tie the game on four occasions leading to a 22-22 score with 5:55 left in the period.
 
The Bulldogs were able to gain control at that point, finish the half on a 15-6 run to take a 37-28 lead at the break.  Andrew Smith, who notched ten points in the half, knocked down a trey with six seconds remaining to cement the BU lead.
 
Butler continued to add to its advantage over the first five minutes of the second half, going up 52-39.  With the Bulldogs up 54-43, Evansville made its run, scoring 11-straight over a span of four minutes to tie the game up at 54-54 with 8:24 left in the game.  Butler was 0-4 from the floor over that span while turning the ball over three times.  Jones recorded a pair of field goals in the run.
 
Ronald Nored scored to give the lead back to BU before a Harris three-pointer gave the Aces their first lead since early in the first half.  Nored drained a three on the ensuing trip down the floor and with 6:46 remaining, a pair of free throws put Butler up 61-57. 
 
Buckets by Holmes and Jahr helped Evansville tie the game back up, but a pair of Chrishawn Hopkins threes in a span of 30 seconds turned a 2-point Aces lead into a 4-point deficit.
 
The Aces did not relent as Holmes struck again, hitting a layup and a free throw to cut the deficit to a point, 67-66.  A free throw by Nored put Butler up 69-66 with just over a minute remaining and that is where the fun began.  Colt Ryan connected on a shot with 44 seconds left to cut the BU lead to one. 
 
Following a Bulldog turnover, the Aces had the ball down one with a chance at the final shot.  Ned Cox attempted a jumper with seven second left with Ryan grabbing the miss.  He was fouled by Jackson Aldridge and went to the line with under a second remaining.  After missing the first, he would make the second to tie the game at 69.
 
Overtime seemed to be the likely destination, but Butler had other ideas.  The Bulldogs heaved the ball the full length of the floor to Andrew Smith, who was fouled on an attempt as time was running out.  Smith went to the line needing just one free throw to seal the win, but missed both to send the game to the extra period.
 
After a pair of ties, a pair of Ryan free throws with two minutes remaining gave Evansville the lead for good.  He recorded the final six UE points as the Aces would hang on for the 80-77 victory.
 
Aside from his team high of 23 points, Ryan led UE with seven boards.  He was 14-of-18 from the free throw line while dishing out three assists and stealing the ball five times.  Jahr was an efficient 5-7 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from long range. 
 
Chrishawn Hopkins led the Bulldogs with 22 points on 8-19 shooting.  Andrew Smith was close behind with 21.
 
The Aces will look to make it 2-0 on the season as they host Indiana at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Ford Center.