Boxscore

EVANSVILLE, Ind—A breakout second-half for the Aces gave the University of Evansville men’s basketball team a 77-70 victory over visiting Hofstra tonight in the first round of the 2011 College Basketball Invitational presented by Zebra Pen.

Now it's on to Boise State for 16-15 Evansville.  The Aces and Broncos meet Monday night in the second round at Boise, Idaho.  The Broncos beat Austin Peay 83-80 this evening at Boise.

Tonight’s win marks UE’s first post-season victory since the 1989 victory over Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament.

Trailing 49-44 in the second half, Jordan Jahr scored off a steal to bring the score to 49-46 and spark the beginning of an 8-0 run for the Aces. At 11:58, Ned Cox sank a jumper to put UE within one at 49-48 before Troy Taylor drew the foul and was sent to the line. Taylor made both free throws to put UE ahead 50-49 and give the Aces their first lead of the second half. Jahr followed with two more points, giving the Aces a three-point lead at 52-49 before Hofstra was able to make its first basket in nearly four minutes.

Jordan Jahr and Colt Ryan post-game interview

UE held on to the lead the rest of the game. With 17.9 seconds on the clock, Colt Ryan made two free throws to give the Aces a five-point cushion. Ryan was fouled again with 6.0 seconds on the clock, sinking both free throws again to put the final score at 77-70.

Clint Hopf, Ryan, Jahr and Cox each ended the night with double-digit points. Ryan led the Aces with 21 points. Jahr added 13 points and five rebounds, and Cox and Hopf scored 10 points each. UE’s defense held Hofstra All-American candidate Charles Jenkins to just 14 points. Coming into tonight’s game, the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year averaged 22.9 points a game.
Hofstra's season ended at 21-12.

"The difference tonight was that a lot of players stepped up," said coach Marty Simmons.  "That's something we've been missing a little bit over the last five or six games, but tonight we had a lot of guys make big plays."