Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Junior Colt Ryan scored a game-high 25 points as the University of Evansville men's basketball team overcame a late rally to open up Missouri Valley Conference play with a 78-60 win over Southern Illinois on Thursday at the Ford Center.
 
Ryan hit 6-of-14 shots and 10 out of 11 free throws.  Denver Holmes and Kenneth Harris each chipped in 11 for Evansville (6-5, 1-0 MVC)
 
"We did alot of good things tonight, but there are still some areas we need to improve in," head coach Marty Simmons said.  "I was proud of our effort, we are pleased with the outcome."
 
Early on, things were very competitive as there were six lead changes in the first four minutes of play.  With the Salukis (3-9, 0-1 MVC) up 6-5, Colt Ryan sent the Aces on a 18-2 run in the first significant spurt of the game.
 
Following Ryan's three, Denver Holmes hit a pair of free throws before Ryan knocked down a layup.  Holmes kept it going with a trey of his own as UE would eventually see its lead grow to 23-8.  Kendal Brown-Surles hit a three-pointer at the 11:40 mark to put a temporary end to the run, but UE scored the next five points to go up 28-11.
 
Evansville's lead continued to grow over the final minutes of the half to as many as 22 points with 1:34 remaining before the Aces went into halftime up 48-27.  Ryan led all players with 15 points in the opening stanza that saw UE shoot 53.3% from the floor.  Defense was also a strong point as the Aces forced SIU into 13 turnovers.  The 48 points scored by Evansville in the first half was the most in the first period of a game this season.
 
In the opening minute of the second half, UE took its largest lead of 23 points as a Troy Taylor jumper made it a 50-27 game.  Southern Illinois would cut into the lead, coming within 17 points following a T.J. Lindsay shot with 14:35 to go.  UE quickly got the lead back up to 23 points.
 
With UE up 63-40, the Salukis clawed their way back into the mix once again.  Southern utilized a 12-2 run to get with 13 points with under seven minutes left in the game.  Another trey from Lindsay capped off the stretch.  They also turned up the heat defensively.  After forcing seven UE turnovers in the opening period, the Salukis forced six in a span of just four minutes in the run.
 
One of the turning points came with five minutes remaining.  Ryan came through once again, hitting his third trey of the game as the shot clock ran out to give the Aces a 70-54 advantage.  SIU would get within 14 points with just over two minutes remaining, but the deficit proved to be too much to overcome as UE came away with the 78-60 win.
 
Marmadou Seck led SIU with 20 points while Brown-Suries notched 13.  Evansville finished with a .511-.411 shooting advantage while the Salukis outrebounded UE, 36-30.  Evansville's defense was stout, forcing 23 turnovers, marking the fifth time UE forced over 20.
 
On Sunday, league play continues as the Aces make their first MVC road trip, traveling to take on Northern Iowa on Sunday at 8 p.m.  ESPNU will televise the game.  The Aces return home in January 4th to take on Wichita State.