Box Score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Junior
Ned Cox tied his career high with 16 points as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team cruised to an 80-53 victory over Oakland City on Saturday at the Ford Center.
Cox was one of five players to score in double digits for Evansville (2-1).
Colt Ryan tallied 15 points while
Kenneth Harris had 13.
Troy Taylor scored 11 while freshman
Jordan Nelson had ten. Taylor recorded the first double-double of the season for UE, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.
“Midway through the first half, I think we played with better effort, but we did not finish up the half strong,” head coach Marty Simmons said. “I thought our guys came out strong in the second half. I think our guys got better with the last two days of practice and better during the game today.”
A back-and-forth affair ensued over the opening minutes. Evansville scored the opening three points of the game before Mitch Stahl knocked down a trey to make it a 3-3 game. Ned Cox quickly responded with a three of his own before Cameron LeFear buried two threes in 30 seconds to give the Mighty Oaks a 9-6 lead.
Cox tied it up with a bucket and free throw as the Aces went on a 14-3 run to go up 20-12. The advantage for UE would grow to as many as 12 points in the opening period as Lewis Jones hit a layup to go up 29-17 with 8:19 remaining, but a late run by OCU made it a 36-29 game at the half. With 25 seconds remaining in the period, Ethan Knepp hit OCU’s ninth trey of the game to cut the deficit to seven. The Mighty Oaks hit just one two-point field goal in the first half.
After regrouping at the break, Evansville took over in the early portion of the second half, recording the first 14 points. The Aces hit five of their first six baskets while forcing Oakland City to miss their first five shots and five turnovers in the first four minutes of the period. Ryan scored six points in the run while forcing a pair of steals.
It was all Aces from that point as they would lead by as many as 28 points before the final of 80-53. Evansville got better in all phases in the second period, shooting 66.7% while holding OCU to 30% shooting. UE also held the Mighty Oaks scoreless from three-point range in the latter period.
Ethan Knepp was the top scorer for OCU with 15 points while Mitch Stahl had 13. After shooting 50% in the first half, OCU was just 9-of-30 in the second stanza.
On Wednesday, the Aces will make their first road trip of the season, traveling to Illinois-Chicago. The Aces and Flames tip off at 7 p.m. Colt Ryan will look to record his 1,000th point with UE. He stands just seven shy of the plateau.
