Game Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Purple Aces will look for their fourth-consecutive win as they travel to Wichita State for 7 p.m. matchup on Wednesday in a game that will be televised live on the MVC Network.
 
The Purple Aces look for their fourth-straight win on Wednesday as they will take on Wichita State at Charles Koch Arena.  Last time out, UE picked up a 79-71 win over Illinois State, avenging an earlier loss to the Redbirds.  Colt Ryan tallied a game-high 20 points as five players finished in double figures.  UE led by 15 at the half against ISU before hanging on for the eight-point victory.
 
Ryan garnered his second MVC Player of the Week award following the top week of his career on January 23.  Ryan led the Aces to wins over Bradley and Illinois State, averaging 29.5 PPG.  He began the week with a 39-point performance, the top outing of his career, against the Braves.  He connected on 12 field goals, including eight treys, both tops in his career.  The Batesville, Ind. native followed that up with a game-high 20 points in the win over Illinois State.
 
Troy Taylor, Evansville’s 6-0 junior guard, is not afraid to mix it up against the opposition.  Despite being at a height disadvantage against most opponents, Taylor has been a beast on the boards over the last five games, averaging 9.0 rebounds per game over that stretch.  His improved play on the glass has also translated into confidence in his shooting as he has had three double-digit scoring games over that span after posting just one through the first sixteen games of the season.
 
Evansville freshman Ryan Sawvell has not only been one of the most consistent shooters for the Aces, but also one of the best in the country.  For the season, Sawvell has connected on 36-of-57 attempts, shooting 63.2%.  That percentage would put him in the top 15 in the nation with enough attempts. 
 
Valley play has seen the Aces go through peaks and valleys over the first seven games.  Evansville began league play with a 2-0 mark before falling in four straight games.  Since then, UE has reeled off three-consecutive wins and will put that streak on the line on Wednesday in Wichita.  So what has been the biggest factor when looking at UE’s MVC wins vs. its losses?  Rebounding.  In its five league wins, the Aces are +0.6 on the boards, but in the four losses, UE has been outrebounded by an average of 9.5 per game.
 
Wichita State owns a 17-3 mark and sits in a tie atop the MVC with an 8-1 mark.  After starting the season at 2-2, WSU has gone 15-1 and has won seven games in a row.  Last time out, the Shockers doubled up Southern Illinois, taking an 85-42 victory over the weekend.  Three players averaged double figures for WSU including Garrett Stutz (12.4 PPG), Joe Ragland (12.3) and Toure’ Murry (12.2).  Against the Salukis, three Shockers led the way with 11 points while the WSU defense held SIU to just 16 first-half points. 
 
This will mark UE’s second game this season against Wichita State.  The first matchup saw WSU hold a double-figure lead on three occasions before the Aces battled back to take a 65-64 lead with just over a minute remaining.  Garrett Stutz hit a late layup and Joe Ragland hit what would prove to be the game-winning free throw.  With just a second remaining, Kenneth Harris went to the free throw line with a chance to tie, but missed his second attempt.
 
The MVC TV Network will carry tomorrow’s contest.  The network is comprised of Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox College Sports, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and ESPN3.  On Sunday, UE will be back home to take on Indiana State.  Tip is set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.