EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Aces head men's basketball coach Walter McCarty could not be happier with the way his defense has played in the last two games.  It is something that may be a key when the Aces welcome Green Bay to the Ford Center for today's 4 p.m. contest.
 
"They (Green Bay) really push the ball and are more like us than anyone else we have played," McCarty said.  "They are looking at scoring in under eight seconds, they run their actions really well and have several options within them.  We need to have our presence felt and impact the ball."
 
The stats show just that – the Phoenix are 7^th in the nation averaging 77.3 possessions per game.  Their average possession length of 14.5 seconds is 8^th in the NCAA.  If Evansville's defense can play at the level it has over the last two contests, the Aces should be in good shape.
 
In its last two games (Jacksonville State and Murray State), the Aces defense has shined, holding JSU to 35% shooting and MSU to 39%; the efforts were two of UE's top four defensive games of the season.  The Aces also held the two opponents to 60.5 points per game, 14 points below Evansville's defensive season average of 74.5 points.
 
"Our guys are starting to play really well, especially on the defensive end.  Two games back-to-back where we have played really well defensively.  I think if we come out with two more possessions, we win each of these last two games," McCarty said.  "Our guys are really starting to fight right now.  I am very excited about the experience they are getting against some really good basketball teams.  We really are playing well and have to continue to build off of that."
 
Jacksonville State entered last Saturday's game averaging 76.4 points on the season while shooting 45.7%.  UE held them to just 55 points on 35% shooting.  The defense was back at it on Tuesday; the Racers came into the game with 78.6 points per game and hit 49% of their attempts.  Evansville held them in check, limiting them to 66 points on 39% shooting.
 
It will be a fun contest to watch today with two strong offensive squads set to face off at 4 p.m.
 

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