Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Senior Colt Ryan scored a game-high 24 points and in the process, passed Scott Haffner for fifth on the UE all-time list as the Purple Aces earned an 80-67 victory over Alabama State at the Ford Center.
 
Ryan hit 7-of-16 shots to go along with three treys and a 7-7 performance from the free throw line.  Ryan Sawvell tallied a season-high 11 points for the Aces (6-4) while Jaylon Moore notched ten.  Leading Alabama State (1-8) was Phillip Crawford, who notched 22.
 
“We did a lot of good things, we played harder and saw everyone continue to grow,” UE head coach Marty Simmons said.  “We got to the line 33 times, so we were very aggressive.  That is the way we have to play.”
 
Both teams were hitting everything in the early going as Evansville hit seven out of its first eight shots while Alabama State was 7-of-10 to begin the game.  The Hornets had the opening score before Evansville scored seven in a row.
 
Evansville kept adding to its lead as it reached double figures for the first time as a trey by Jordan Jahr gave UE a 24-14 lead with 13:24 left in the opening half.  The Hornets stayed within shouting distance, thanks in part to Phillip Crawford, who hit five of his opening seven attempts for 10 early tallies.  Colt Ryan was the first UE player to reach double figures, notching 11 as he hit his first three three-pointers.
 
After the Aces were up by as many as 14 points, Shawntez Patterson knocked down a three with nine minutes left to cut the UE lead to just 10 at 31-21.  At that point, Evansville’s defense made a statement, holding ASU scoreless over a period of six minutes while scoring 12 in a row to take a 43-21 lead.  The Aces held the Hornets to 0-6 shooting while forcing six turnovers in the stretch.  The lead held strong as Evansville went to the halftime intermission with a 46-29 lead.  Ryan led all players at the break with 14.
 
Three early turnovers in the second frame helped Alabama State begin the half on a 5-2 run, but Evansville quickly got its groove going as Ned Cox hit a three-pointer with 15:20 left to help the Aces regain their 21-point lead at 55-34.  Another spurt, this one a 5-0 stretch put the lead back under 20 points, but the lead would hold strong over the remainder of the contest as Evansville came away with the 80-67 triumph.
 
Rebounding was a strong point for the Aces.  After Alabama State held an 18-17 edge in that category in the opening period, Evansville outrebounded them 19-9 in the second half to finish the game with a 36-27 edge.  In a recurring theme for the Aces, it was Troy Taylor leading with nine boards, it marked the 23^rd time in his career and the sixth time out of ten games this season he has led the team in rebounding.  UE shot 47.1% for the day while holding ASU to 46.2%.
 
The defense for the Aces had a solid outing, forcing 22 Hornet turnovers, but the offense had its own trouble hanging onto the ball, turning it over 19 times.
 
On Tuesday, the Aces will wrap up its four-game homestand against Oakland City.  Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.  Next Saturday, Evansville will finish up its pre-Christmas slate as they travel to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to face Butler.