Game Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In their first appearance on the MVC TV Network this season, the University of Evansville men's basketball team will play host to Bradley on Sunday with tip set for 1 p.m. at the Ford Center.
 
Fans can get into the game for just $5 thank to the generosity of the Evansville Courier and Press.  There will also be $1 sodas, hot dogs and popcorn available courtesy of the Ford Center.
 
Sunday marks a special day at the Ford Center as the second phase of the Hilliard Lyons Corridor of Champions will be unveiled.  The display will be dedicated to the memory of those lost in the 1977 plane crash.  A dedication for the exhibit will take place at 11:45 a.m. and all are invited to take part in the event.
 
A defensive struggle on Tuesday night saw Missouri State edge Evansville by a final of 64-61 at JQH Arena.  It was D.J. Balentine leading the offense once again, tallying 18 points and five assists; he is just one behind Duane Gibson for the team lead in helpers this season.  Egidijus Mockevicius fell just short of his fourth double-double of the year, posting 10 points and 9 rebounds.
 
One disparity in the stats came as the Bears finished with an 18-3 advantage on the offensive glass; UE has given up 43 offensive rebounds in the last three games while grabbing 28; for the season, UE is being outrebounded by a 233-170 total on the offensive boards.
 
One of the top rebounders in the country continues to add to his numbers on a game-by-game basis as Mockevicius added nine more rebounds at Missouri State, falling just short of his fourth double-double.  In his time on the floor, Mockevicius has grabbed 28.1% of the possible defensive rebounds; that tally 11^th-best in the country.  He has elevated his performance in MVC play, posting nine rebounds per game, tops in the league.
 
Bradley comes to the Ford Center sporting an 8-12 overall mark and a 3-4 league effort in seven games.  The Braves have won their last two games, taking a 66-60 win over SIU before defeating UNI by a 69-65 final with both games being at home.  It has been a struggle on the road this year as BU is 0-6 away from home; since the beginning of the 2011-12 season, the Braves are 2-19 in road conference games.
 
Senior Walt Lemon Jr. is the active scoring leader in the MVC and is also the top scorer in league play this season; through seven league games, Lemon has averaged 21.6 PPG.  Lemon is fresh off of a 28-point effort that saw him go 11-22 from the floor; he has also posted 2.3 steals per game, second in the league.  Tyshon Pickett is the No. 3 rebounder in the league with 7.4 per game; his average of 2.8 offensive boards per contest is tops in the MVC while he is second on the team in scoring at 11.6 PPG.  The third of three BU double digit scorers is Omari Grier, who has notched 11.3 points while leading the Braves from the line, shooting 88.2%.
 
While Bradley leads the series by a 24-18 margin, Evansville has had the upper hand as of late, winning three of the last four while taking the last three games in Evansville.  Home games have been very good to the Aces against the Braves as they are 14-6 in those outings. In the three recent victories, the Aces have outscore the Braves by 62 total points, an average of 21.0 per game.