Box Score (PDF)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Four University of Evansville basketball players finished in double figures, but it was not enough as Indiana State rallied for a 79-75 victory in overtime at the Hulman Center.
 
Mislav Brzoja hit 7 of his 11 shots in the game to lead Evansville (11-3, 1-1 MVC).  D.J. Balentine finished the day with 15 points as he connected on 7 of his 8 free throw attempts.  Egidijus Mockevicius notched 13 points and 14 rebounds on his way to the 10^th double-double of the season.  Rounding out the leading scorers was Blake Simmons, who posted 12 as he drained four out of five shots.
 
A defensive first half saw the Sycamores (6-8, 2-0 MVC) take a 31-30 lead into the locker room.  The Aces had the hot hand early as Jaylon Brown hit the first two shots of the game to give UE a 4-0 lead.  The Sycamores came back to tie it at 6-6 before taking their first lead at 13-12 on a Tre Bennett triple.  It was the first of 25 lead changes in the contest.
 
Inside of the 5-minute mark of the first half, ISU took its largest lead of five points before UE cut the deficit to one on a Mockevicius layup.
 
Evansville chipped away in the opening minutes of the second frame as an and-one by Balentine put the lead back in the hands of the Aces at 37-36.  Neither team led by more than a possession until Brzoja hit a trey with 11:56 left to put UE up 52-46.
 
It was Brzoja coming through once again inside of four minutes remaining as his third 3-pointer of the day gave the Aces their largest lead of the day at 68-61.  Over the remainder of regulation, the Sycamores outscored the Aces by a 9-2 score to send the game to overtime.  Jake Kitchell had four points in the rally while Brenton Scott had a three.
 
In overtime, the Sycamores outscored UE by a 9-5 score to pick up the 79-75 win.
 
Kitchell led Indiana State with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  He was one of four to hit double figures. 
 
On Wednesday, the Aces are back at the Ford Center to take on Loyola.  Tickets to the game are just $5 courtesy of the Courier and Press.  Look for the coupon inside the Courier and Press or on the UE Athletics social media accounts.  Popcorn and sodas will be $1.