EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A 12-0 second-half run helped Bradley take an 81-73 win over the University of Evansville men's basketball team on Wednesday night inside the Ford Center.
K.J. Riley scored a team-best 14 points while tallying three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals for UE (9-13, 3-6 MVC). Just behind him was Evan Kuhlman, who scored 13. It was one off of his career mark of 14 points, which came against Illinois State. Marty Hill added 10 points and seven boards.
Box Score (PDF)
"For some reason, we are not executing our game plan. It comes down to executing and doing your job," Aces head coach Walter McCarty said. "We have to pay attention to detail and do the small things better. We had some really good stretches tonight, but there were times that we did not do what was needed."
Leading Bradley (11-11, 3-6 MVC) was Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, who had 18 points and 12 boards.
Each team got off to a nice offensive start with the Purple Aces draining five of their first nine shots while Bradley started at 4-for-6. After the Braves posted a three on their first possession of the night, Evansville took its first lead at 6-5 when Shea Feehan converted a 4-point play. After the Braves retook a 10-8 lead, Evan Kuhlman hit back-to-back layups to put the Aces back on top.
A big UE run came with the score tied at 12-12 at the 14:42 mark as the Aces reeled off eight points in a row and was bookended by 3-pointers from Shea Feehan and Noah Frederking. Bradley got back within three before Evansville pushed its lead back to seven - 29-22 - with seven minutes remaining in the half. Jawaun Newton helped UE solidify its edge with his first triple of the night.
Bradley pushed back in the final minutes, retaking the lead with 1:40 on the clock when Luqman Lundy drained a three. With 26 ticks left, Kuhlman countered with his first long ball that sent the Aces to the break with a 36-34 lead.
Kuhlman and Noah Frederking hit two more triples in the opening moments of the second half to push the UE lead to six - 46-40. Bradley took control at that point, going on a 12-0 stretch that gave them a 52-46 advantage with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game. UE was scoreless for three minutes while going 0-for-4 from the floor with two turnovers. K.J. Riley ended the stretch with a bucket to close back within four.
Following another bucket by the Braves, Marty Hill connected on an and-one that made it a one-possession game once again. On the next trip down the floor, Hill connected once again, this time from long range, to cut the deficit to 56-54. Defense was on display for the Aces on Bradley's next possession, reeling off a pair of blocks. The offense drew a foul on the other side and Riley knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 56-56 at the midway point of the half.
Despite the momentum gained by Evansville, the Braves went back in front with consecutive field goals and moved back to six points inside of the 5-minute mark. Shamar Givance got the Aces back within four with his second bucket of the day, but the Braves answered with five in a row to give them a game-high 72-63 lead. They extended the lead into double figures, going up by as many as 16 points before the Aces closed in the final minute for the 81-73 final.
The Braves shot 51.7% for the game and were 16-of-28 (57.1%) in the final 20 minutes. Evansville finished at 45.6%.
Peoria native Shea Feehan finished with a solid nine points, draining three shots including two triples.
Valparaiso comes to the Ford Center on Saturday as the Aces host another home game. Tip is 1 p.m.
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