Box Score (PDF)  -  Photo Gallery

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – D.J. Balentine hit three triples and 10 free throws on his way to 25 points as the University of Evansville men's basketball team held off a furious rally to defeat Southern Illinois by a 75-66 final on Saturday at the Ford Center.
 
Balentine led UE (15-5, 5-3 MVC) with 25 points on a 6-of-11 day from the floor.  Egidijus Mockevicius posted 15 points and 8 rebounds while Adam Wing chipped in nine.  Taylor Stafford continued his solid play, hitting a pair of 3-pointers before finishing with seven points.
 
"It feels great to come out of here with a win," UE head coach Marty Simmons said.  "We were fortunate to get a couple of stops late and hit our free throws down the stretch.  Our guys came off the bench and gave us a huge boost."
 
Southern Illinois (9-12, 2-6 MVC) had the upper hand early in the contest, hitting two of its first three shots en route to a 7-2 lead.  Evansville overcame four turnovers in the first four minutes to fight back from the early deficit.
 
Balentine spurted a 14-0 run, scoring nine points in a row for UE.  Wing capped it off with a three to give UE a 16-7 lead.  Anthony Beane ended a 7-minute drought for SIU, hitting a three midway through the first half.  It ended a 0-7 stretch for the Salukis.
 
Evansville endured a drought of its own, going 4:43 without a point as SIU scored five in a row.  The Aces, who had ten turnovers in the first half, had five in that stretch as SIU fought back.  Blake Simmons ended the stretch with a free throw.  Stafford knocked down a three and Jaylon Brown had a breakaway dunk to pace UE to its first double figure lead at 23-12 with 6:13 remaining.
 
Inside of the 4-minute mark, SIU cut the gap to eight before the Aces finished the half on an 11-4 stretch to lead 39-24 at the half.
 
A Simmons free throw gave UE what would be its largest lead at 40-24 on the first possession of the second frame.  With 12:44 left in the contest, Stafford's second three reestablished the 16-point advantage at 52-36.  That is where the Salukis roared back.  A 16-4 run saw then get within four at 56-52. 
 
Christian Benzon hit an and-one in what would be a pivotal 6-1 rally to put Evansville back up by nine with five minutes remaining, but the Salukis kept battling.  Inside of three minutes left, Bola Olaniyan hit a layup to make it just a 3-point game at 62-59.  On the ensuing possession, Mockevicius hit a pair of free throws as UE retook a 2-possession lead and never looked back, taking the 75-66 win.
 
Beane was the top scorer for SIU, finishing with 19 points as he knocked down all eight free throw attempts.  Jordan Caroline registered 15.
 
UE outshot the Salukis by a 48.6%-41.7%, but it was the Salukis outrebounding the Aces by a 27-25 final.
 
On Tuesday, UE will play host to Indiana State at the Ford Center in a 7 p.m. game.  It will also be Military Appreciation Night.  For tickets, call 812-488-ACES or visit the ticket office at the Ford Center or Carson Center.