EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A gritty effort across the board on Saturday saw the University of Evansville men's basketball team earn a 58-54 victory over Illinois State in Missouri Valley Conference action at the Ford Center.
Box Score
"That was a Valley game; very physical, gritty game that was far from pretty, but we found a way. I thought our character improved through that win. They (ISU) opened 10-2 but we climbed back in it," UE head men's basketball coach David Ragland said after the win. "At the end of the day, we found a way to win."
Yacine Toumi put forth another outstanding effort, draining eight of his 11 field goal tries on his way to 17 points. Josh Hughes scored 11 points while picking up four boards and two blocks. Tanner Cuff was the Purple Aces' third double figure scorer with 10 points along with six boards and a pair of blocks. ISU had three double digit scorers with Darius Burford scoring a game-high 18 points.
Illinois State began the day with the opening four points as UE started 0-for-4 from the field with three turnovers throughout the first four minutes. Josh Hughes got Evansville's first score of the day on a putback, but the Redbirds continued their strong start, taking a 10-2 lead at the 10:58 mark. Evansville's early woes saw them hit one of their opening seven attempts while turning it over five times.
Tanner Cuff connected on the Purple Aces' second field goal of the afternoon and was the start of an 8-0 run that tied the game at 10-10. His 3-point play was followed by a triple from Chuck Bailey III and a Hughes jumper that knotted the game at the 10:56 mark. ISU quickly rebounded to post the next four points, but Yacine Toumi converted his first two baskets of the game to give UE its first lead at 16-14 with 5:25 left in the half.
In its ensuing possession, ISU tied it up at 16-16 and would again force a tie with a 20-20 score entering the final three minutes. Evansville put together its best stretch to that point, outscoring the Redbirds by a 7-1 margin to take a 27-21 halftime lead. Hughes registered the last five points for UE, including a 3-pointer. The defense for the Aces forced a 0-for-12 showing from long range by ISU in the half.
Just over a minute into the final period, Gage Bobe knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Aces their first double figure lead of the game at 32-22. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. converted a 3-point play to extend the lead to 13 points. As fast as Evansville extended the lead, Illinois State rallied back. Outscoring UE by a 13-4 margin, the Redbirds cut the deficit to 39-35 with 12 minutes left.
Toumi put an end to the stretch, but ISU kept things within two possessions over the ensuing four minutes until a free throw made it a 43-40 game at the 8:51 mark. The Aces slowly regained control, retaking an 8-point lead entering the final four minutes. Most of the damage was done by Toumi, who had five points in a stretch that extended the lead to 53-45. Evansville remained in solid shape when a Cam Haffner free throw made it a 56-50 game with 1:40 remaining, but ISU made one final push.
Two free throws saw the Redbirds make it a 4-point game and, following a UE miss, Johnny Kinziger connected on a jumper to cut the deficit to two with 49 ticks on the clock. Evansville's ensuing possession saw Toumi grab an offensive rebound as the shot clock was winding down. UE was unable to get another shot off, giving the ball back to the Redbirds with 19 seconds left. Suffocating defense by the Aces forced an ISU turnover and two Antonio Thomas free throws sealed the win.
Evansville shot 43.8% while the defense held Illinois State to 32.0%. UE's defense held the Redbirds to 1-of-21 shooting from 3-point range. The rebounding statistic went ISU's way by a 33-32 tally.
Another home game is on tap when the Aces welcome UIC to the Ford Center on Wednesday evening.
