TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A last-minute rally fell short as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team dropped its third-consecutive game, losing by an 80-78 score to Indiana State on Tuesday evening at the Hulman Center.
 
Ned Cox hit seven out of 14 field goals while going a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range.  Colt Ryan checked in with 17 points while Troy Taylor recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 12 points to go along with 10 boards.  Taylor came up just short of the second triple-double in UE (7-8, 2-3 MVC) history as he dished out seven assists.
 
A defensive battle ensued over the opening minutes before Jake Odum got the Sycamores (11-5, 2-3) on the board with a pair of free throws.  Following a pair of turnovers and misses on its first two shots, the Aces scored nine-straight points to go up 9-2.  Colt Ryan got it started with a three before Cox and Kenneth Harris hit and-ones on consecutive possessions.
 
Evansville’s run turned into 13-4 as Cox hit a trey just over five minutes in.  Indiana State made its first run of the game as a three by Lucas Eitel sent them on an 11-4 stretch to get back within a pair at 17-15. 
 
Indiana State continued its run, knocking down four of its first five three-pointers to retake the lead at 32-30 with just over four minutes remaining in the half.  Jake Kitchell and Jordan Printy knocked down back-to-back treys to put ISU back on top.  The Sycamores continued to add to that lead over the remaining minutes of the period, holding a 44-35 advantage at the half.
 
An 18-5 run over the last five minutes of the half was the difference for ISU as they hit six of their last eight shots.  Nine Sycamore players scored in the opening half while just five Aces made their way onto the scoresheet.
 
Neither team was able to mount a major charge in the opening moments of the second half.  ISU’s fifth three of the game, this one by Jake Odum, gave the Sycamores their first double figure lead at 51-41.  Troy Taylor continued his solid performance, moving into double figures with a basket at the 4:41 mark of the second period to cut the deficit to eight.
 
Later in the period, it was Evansville’s turn to rally.  Down by as many as ten points, the Aces made it a two-point game with nine minutes left as Kenneth Harris knocked down a pair of free throws.  Indiana State had an answer, though, reeling off the next nine points to take their largest lead of the contest at 69-58.  Dwayne Lathan notched six points in the run that gave them the advantage with under five minutes left in the game. 
 
Evansville was unable to muster up a lot of offense, failing to hit a field goal in a stretch of eight minutes while missing seven shots and turning the ball over twice.  Ned Cox ended the stretch with a three at the 2:23 mark and, after forcing the Sycamores into their 16^th turnover of the game, Denver Holmes hit two free throws to get the Aces back within four, 71-67.
 
Refusing to give up, the Aces kept fighting.  Ryan hit his second three of the game to get UE back within a possession at 73-70.  In the final minute, Cox and Jordan Nelson hit threes to make it a one-point game with five ticks on the clock.  Indiana State hit one out of two free throws giving UE a chance for the tie or the win, but a three at the buzzer fell just short.
 
Odum was the top scorer for ISU, notching 15 points while Lathan recorded 14 and Lucas Eital had 12.  ISU outshot UE by a 55.3%-42.1% margin while the rebounding battle was even at 30-30.
 
On Friday, Evansville will return to the Ford Center to host Drake at 7:05 p.m.  The Bulldogs were scheduled to take on Bradley Tuesday evening.  This weekend, the Aces will travel to Springfield, Mo. for a Sunday match at Missouri State.