EVANSVILLE, Ind. – As the regular season hits the homestretch, the University of Evansville men's basketball team makes its final road trip, traveling to Drake for a series on Sunday and Monday. The teams open play on Sunday with a 3 p.m. game that will be carrier on the MVC TV Network, which includes Fox Sports Indiana in the Evansville area. Monday's finale will begin at 6 p.m. on ESPN+...the Purple Aces Radio Network will also have full coverage.
Setting the Scene
- Facing the toughest part of its 2020-21 schedule, the Purple Aces look to halt a 4-game skid in Des Moines
- It marks the third of four series that pits the Aces against the top four teams in the MVC
- UE has stayed within striking distance in each game, but late runs by the opposition have been the difference
- Drake is receiving votes in both national polls and is battling Loyola for the top spot in the MVC
- The Knapp Center is another arena that has not been good to the Aces - UE has dropped nine of the last 10 games at the venue
Last Time Out
- Evansville had another solid showing on Wednesday in Terre Haute, trimming a 7-point halftime deficit down to just one in the second half before a run by the Sycamores put the game out of reach
- ISU shot 64.8% on their way to an 87-73 win as Tyreke Key scored 34 points
- Leading the Aces was Jawaun Newton, who went 7-of-9 from the field on his way to 18 points
- Shamar Givance had a stellar all-around game, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists...his assist tally tied his career mark
Swapping Points
- One of the stories around the 20-21 UE squad has been its strong 3-point shooting...over the course of the season, UE has outscored the opposition from outside by an average of 12.3 points per game
- On the flipside, UE has been outscored by an average of 13.5 PPG in the paint...the Aces have lost eight out of nine games this year opponent finishes at +18 or more in the paint
- Evansville is a perfect 4-0 on the season when winning the battle in the paint
Just One
- An outstanding 10-point, 8-rebound, 6-assist effort at Indiana State put Shamar Givance into some elite company
- He is the only player in the MVC who is averaging 4.2 assists per game and 4.0 rebounds per contest
- Givance has been back in top form over the last six games, averaging 13.2 points over that span following the Bradley series where he averaged 2.5 PPG
- His 4.2 assists per game is second in the Valley...he has multiple assists in 18 consecutive games and tied his career high with eight helpers at Indiana State
- A tenacious defensive player - Givance has forced 12 steals in the last six games
Scouting the Opponent
- Standing at 21-2 overall and 12-2 in conference play, Drake is receiving votes in both national polls
- The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back wins against Loyola and at UNI on Wednesday
- Drake won its first 18 games of the season including non-conference victories against Kansas State and Air Force
- With leading scorer ShanQuan Hemphill out due to injury, the Bulldogs leading scorer is Roman Penn with 11.5 points per game...he leads the MVC with 5.6 assists per game and his season total of 128...that ranks 27th in the nation
- Tremell Murphy has posted 9.9 PPG while D.J. Wilkins checks in with 9.7
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