Game Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s basketball team will look for its second-straight win at Carver Arena as the Purple Aces will travel to face Bradley on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.
 
Evansville is coming off of a 62-61 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Missouri State.  Colt Ryan tallied 24 points, 20 of which came in the second half.  He hit 8-of-19 shots while registering four assists.  Ned Cox also finished in double figures, tallying 12.
 
Egidijus Mockevicius has grown his game by leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season; averaging 4.5 rebounds per game on the season, the freshman has kicked it into high gear over the last five games, averaging 7.8 per contest, including a career-high of 13 against UNI; over that span, Mockevicius has also hauled in 3.8 offensive rebounds per outing.  The No. 4 shot blocker in the MVC has posted 13 in the last four games, including a career-high of six in the home game against UNI. 
 
Bradley fell to 13-10 overall and 5-6 in the MVC with a 75-58 loss at Creighton on Saturday evening; Dyricus Simms-Edwards led the way for the Braves with 18 points while Walt Lemon Jr. chipped in 15.  The Braves are 3-3 in their last six contests, including a 66-56 loss to the Aces on Jan. 23.
 
Lemon is the top offensive threat for BU as his average of 14.8 points per game leads the squad; he has also posted a team-high 81 assists to go along with 53 steals.  Simms-Edwards is just behind with an average of 11.8 PPG; he leads the squad with 67 steals.  Bradley is tops in the MVC and 37th in the nation as they force opposing teams into 15.7 turnovers per game; their defense also forced turnovers in 23% of the opposition’s possessions, a total that is 23rd in the country.
 
Just two weeks ago, these teams met at the Ford Center as Evansville held on for a 66-56 victory after leading by just two at the break.  Colt Ryan was the only player in double figures for UE, finishing with 19 on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting effort; Walt Lemon Jr. was one of three Braves in double figures, leading everyone with 22 points.  Egidijus Mockevicius led UE’s rebounding efforts with 10 to go along with seven points and four blocks.
 
On Sunday, Evansville will be back home for a nationally televised game versus Drake.  ESPNU will carry the game, which is set for a 7:05 p.m. tip at the Ford Center.