Men’s basketball defeats Missouri State in MVC showdown
Four Purple Aces recorded double figure points
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Four Purple Aces scored in double figures as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team wrapped up the 2024 calendar year with a 57-40 win over Missouri State on Sunday afternoon inside the Ford Center.
Cam Haffner led the way with 13 points while Josh Hughes and Tayshawn Comer finished with 11 apiece. Tanner Cuff completed the game with 10 points. Hughes tallied nine rebounds while Cuff added eight. Dez White was the leading scorer for the Bears, posting 12, while Michael Osei-Bonsu posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards.
“This was a good team win for us; our defense came out ready to play and it really showed,” UE head coach David Ragland said. “Our guys really stepped up and played a physical game. We are pleased to put together this type of effort in front of our home crowd.”
It was a low-scoring opening half with the Purple Aces wrestling away a 23-20 lead at the half. Cam Haffner knocked down a triple to get UE on the board leading to a 5-5 tie four minutes into the contest. The Bears jumped back in front at 7-5 before Evansville went up 9-7 on a Josh Hughes bucket.
Entering the final five minutes of the period, the Bears held the largest advantage of the half at 19-15. Tayshawn Comer converted a field goal to open an 8-1 stretch that saw UE jump back in front at the half. Connor Turnbull found Kaia Berridge for an open three before Turnbull followed with his own field goal to help UE hold a 23-20 lead at the break.
Missouri State knocked down a 3-pointer in their opening possession of the second half while Haffner immediately answered. Consecutive triples by Hughes followed with Evansville taking its largest lead at 34-25 inside of 16 minutes remaining. The Bears countered with five in a row to make it a 4-point game, but Connor Turnbull took control. Consecutive baskets by the junior were followed by a Cuff field goal that put UE up by 10 – 40-30 – with 12 minutes left.
Over the next four minutes, the Bears scored six in a row, but the damage could have been more. As a team, MSU hit one of their nine field goal tries while cutting into the deficit. After taking the 10-point lead, Evansville missed its next four attempts but as the clock reached the 8-minute mark, Haffner drained a trey with Comer picking up the assist to push the lead to 43-36. Michael Day also played a role in the possession, picking up an offensive rebound off a missed free throw.
Day made his presence known shortly after, connecting on a 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 13 – 51-38 – inside of five minutes remaining. The lead reached as many as 18 in the final moments with the Aces completed the day with the 57-40 victory.
Evansville shot 38.3% while holding the Bears to 25.9% from the field and 20% from outside. MSU had a 41-35 rebounding edge. Comer led all players with five assists.
MVC play continues Wednesday with UE travels to Carbondale to face Southern Illinois in a 1 p.m. game.
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