Men’s basketball advances to MVC Championship game

Evansville to face UNI on Sunday at 1 p.m.

ST LOUIS –For the second time since joining the league in 1994, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will play in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Game after defeating Indiana State, 68-42, in the semifinals on Saturday at the Scottrade Center.

Evansville (25-8) will now face UNI in the championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on CBS.

“Just really proud, really happy four our team,” Aces head coach Marty Simmons said.  “Most young kids grow up dreaming of having this opportunity and our guys worked really hard.  They’ve done a great job of staying together and we just feel really fortunate.”

The Aces scored the first five points of the game and never looked back, leading by as many as 30 before taking the 68-42.  D.J. Balentine led the charge with 14 points while also notching six assists.  He was one of four to score double figures for the Aces.  Blake Simmons hit three triples on his way to 13 points.  Jaylon Brown finished the night with 11 points while Mislav Brzoja had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

UE won its 25^th game of the season, tying the program Division I mark, which was set in the 1988-89 campaign.  That year, UE made the NCAA Tournament, playing Seton Hall.

A 3-for-4 start from the floor saw the Purple Aces scoot out to a 10-4 lead.  UE scored the first five points of the game and added to it from there as Jaylon Brown and Adam Wing knocked down early triples.

Indiana State (15-17) got within three, but the triples kept finding the bottom of the net for the Aces, who hit five in the first half.  Blake Simmons hit two in the opening stanza before one from Mislav Brzoja put the Aces up 25-15.  The lead extended to 15 points on three occasions, including the halftime score of 37-22.

UE continued to add to the lead in the second half, going up by as many as 30 points before taking the 68-42 win.  The Aces shot 41.1% for the game and finished with a 46-38 advantage on the glass.  ISU hit 25.5% of their attempts.  Devonte Brown was the lone double digit scorer for ISU, posting 15.

Blake Simmons has waited a lifetime for tomorrow’s opportunity and is ready to go.

“It’s still hard to wrap our minds around that tomorrow we’re playing for a chance to make the NCAA Tournament,” he said.  “We can’t wait, we’re really excited for the opportunity.