EVANSVILLE, Ind. –Tuesday saw the University of Evansville men's basketball team put forth its best effort of the season on both sides of the floor.  Offensively, the Purple Aces shot a season-high 52.9% while the defense held the high-scoring Ramblers to just 48 points.
 
"When we play connected on both ends, we are tough to beat.  We have to play with pace on offense, get into a rhythm and get as many possessions as we can," Aces head coach Walter McCarty said.  "We did not give Loyola anything easy, they had to fight for everything they got."
 
McCarty has been preaching his team to play connected and with a purpose all season and it has been coming together over the last several games.  UE now has the number one defense in the Missouri Valley Conference, allowing opponents to shoot just 41.5%.  Over the last seven games, the Aces have held everyone to under 40.3%.
 
"I know what we are capable of, Coach knows what we are capable of and we can do that every night," sophomore John Hall said.  "I think we played really well together on Tuesday night."
 
Next up for the Aces is a contest against Indiana State.  The Sycamores come in with a 9-6 mark and are led by guards Jordan Barnes and Tyreke Key, who average 18.2 and 16.1 points per game, respectively.
 
"They have a lot of talent and many guys who can do it all when they get going.  We enjoyed the win over Loyola, but have to get ready for Indiana State," McCarty exclaimed.  "They just lost a tough one at home and they will be ready to play.  Greg (Lansing) does a great job coaching them." 
 
"They have two guards who (Barnes and Key) can light it up.  They are magnificent scorers.  We have to force them to take tough shots and push the pace."
 
Evansville anticipates its largest crowd of the season with the upper level curtain raised for the first time this year. 
 

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