Game Notes - Live Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week Mislav Brzoja and the University of Evansville men's basketball team take to the road for the first time this season, heading to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami University in a 7 p.m. ET game on Wednesday.
The Purple Aces opened up the 96th season of basketball with a 116-45 victory over Earlham. Six players scored in double figures in the game, led by D.J. Balentine's game-high of 22. UE hit 50 out of 80 attempts while being credited with 34 assists in the game. As a team, the Aces hit 62.5% of their shots while holding Earlham to 29%. Evansville scored an unbelievable 90 points in the paint while the bench outscored Earlham's by a 54-5 margin.
With its first game in the books, the Purple Aces sit atop the NCAA in two categories. After scoring 116 points against Earlham, UE leads the country in scoring average. The Aces also lead the nation with an average of 34 assists per game.
Mislav Brzoja posted a double-double in his first game at UE as he totaled 21 points and
11 rebounds on his way to MVC Newcomer of the Week honors. He was the first player to debut with a double-double since Scott Sparks had 12 points and 12 rebounds on Nov. 27, 1993 in a win over SEMO. His effort of 21 matched Kenneth Harris' debut in 2010 against Oakland City. Brzoja also had 4 assists and 3 steals while committing no turnovers in his 23 minutes.
Balentine led everyone with a 22-point effort against Earlham as he drained 9 of his 16 shots. Balentine has scored 20 or more points in 22 of the last 34 games dating back to the beginning of last season. His six rebounds against the Quakers tied his career mark while he was one of five Aces to tally five helpers in the contest. In the two exhibition games, Balentine led the team with 23 PPG.
Saturday's victory over Earlham saw UE accomplish a few feats that have not been done for a very long time. By scoring 62 in the second half, UE scored 60 or more in a period for the first time since 11/28/98 when the Aces had 61 in the second half at Hawaii Hilo.
UE took 80 shots in the Earlham game, the last time an Evansville team took that many attempts was 12/30/83 against Pepperdine. The Aces' 34 assists was the most since Feb.
1, 2012 when the team finished with 31 in a win at Bradley. Six UE players hit double figures; the last time the team accomplished that was 11/21/04 when the Aces defeated Coastal Carolina, 87-80.
Miami is 1-0 on the season following a 76-63 win over Southern Utah in the opener. Four RedHawks scored in double figures led by 21 from Will Sullivan. The five starters for
Miami combined to score 64 of MU's 76 points in the opener.
Evansville holds a 10-4 lead in the overall series against the RedHawks and has won the last three games in the series. The Aces have won seven out of eight games played in Evansville while splitting six road matchups. In their last visit to Oxford, the Aces picked up a 77-75 win behind 15 Denver Holmes tallies.
Next week, UE remains on the road at the Gulf Coast Showcase. The tournament opens on Monday against Fresno State in a 2:30 p.m. ET contest.
