Four finish in double figures for UE
CANCUN, Mexico – Ryan Taylor and Blake Simmons were named to the All-Tournament Team as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team wrapped up an impressive showing in the Cancun Challenge on Wednesday evening inside the Hard Rock Riviera Maya.
The Purple Aces (5-1) fell to Louisiana Tech (5-0) in heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday as the Bulldogs turned an offensive rebound into the game-winning three with less than a second remaining.
“This was a tough loss, I love the way the guys competed,†UE head coach Marty Simmons said. “I feel bad for the guys in the locker room.â€
Blake Simmons had a great night for the Aces, leading the way with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Dru Smith recorded 11 points while Ryan Taylor had 11 and Dainius Chatkevicius had 10. Chatkevicius had his best game with UE, scoring all 10 points in the second half while hauling in a career-best 8 rebounds.
Daquan Bracey paced the Bulldogs with 17 points while Derric Jean had 13.
In the opening moments, the teams swapped 3-pointers as Daquan Bracey hit one for Louisiana Tech before Blake Simmons matched him on the Aces first possession. Dru Smith hit the second trey of the night to give UE its first lead at 6-3.
With the score tied up at 11-11 at the 12:24 mark, K.J. Riley hit a jumper that sent the Aces on a 6-1 run as they opened up their largest lead of five points – 17-12. Ryan Taylor and Duane Gibson each had buckets in the run. After Evansville took a 19-14 lead, the Bulldogs switched to a 1-3-1 defense and forced UE to go 0-4 with a pair of turnovers.
La. Tech turned that defense into offense as an 8-0 run put them on top, 22-19 with 6:25 remaining in the half. Another triple by Simmons handed the advantage back to the Aces, but a late 4-0 rally saw the Bulldogs take a 31-27 lead into the locker room. The 31 points scored by Louisiana Tech was the most given up in the opening frame by UE this season. It was also the lowest half for the Bulldogs so far.
Dainius Chatkevicius came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. After the Bulldogs took a 34-28 lead, Chatkevicius hit a pair of baskets in an 8-2 run to tie it up at 36-36 just over three minutes in. An and-one by La. Tech saw them take the lead right back.
Their lead remained at three (47-44) with 11 minutes left. That is when UE made a game-changing run. Dalen Traore notched a pair of free throws to set the Aces on a 7-0 run. Smith hit a layup before Blake Simmons drained his third from outside to cap it off and put Evansville on top, 51-47.
Smith dialed it up from outside with just under seven minutes left to help UE match its largest lead of five – 54-49. A minute later, Chatkevicius recorded his 10th point of the half as the Aces took a 58-51 advantage. The Bulldogs ended the streak as Oliver Powell connected on a field goal that spurned a 6-0 run got them back within one at 58-57.
Duane Gibson drew a foul with two minutes left, hitting a free throw to end the scoring drought. On the next Bulldog possession, the UE defense forced a miss, but Louisiana Tech grabbed the offense rebound and turned it into a three to go back up 60-59. Smith was able to draw a foul with 12.7 on the clock and hit both ends of the one-and-one to put the lead back in UE’s hands.
Another offensive rebound was the difference in the game as Derric Jean turned it into the game-winner as the Bulldogs took the 63-61 win. Over the final 5:31, the Bulldogs finished the contest on a 12-3 run while holding the Aces to 0-for-5 shooting. For the game, UE shot 46.2% while the defense was spectacular, limiting Louisiana Tech to just 37.7%.
Following a busy stretch to open the season with six games in 13 days, the Aces receive a well-deserved break. Their next action is next Wednesday, November 29 on the road at New Mexico.
