Sycamores take 91-63 win
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Freshman Gabe Spinelli scored a career-high 10 points on Thursday with the University of Evansville men’s basketball team dropping a 91-63 game to Indiana State at the Hulman Center.
Spinelli was 5-for-9 from the field on the way to his first collegiate double-digit game. Leading UE was Kenny Strawbridge Jr. who recorded 21 points. He hit 8 of his 19 attempts. Marvin Coleman II played all 40 minutes and picked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“They (Indiana State) punched us in the mouth at the start and really set the tone†UE head coach David Ragland said. “We were able to close the gap to 10 points but were not able to sustain it. Give Indiana State credit – they got the job done.â€
Indiana State was on fire out of the gate as they drained their first five shots on the way to a 13-0 lead. Three of those attempts were from long range. UE had three turnovers in the opening moments before Marvin Coleman II got the Aces on the board. The lead for ISU reached 20-4 at the 14:14 mark.
Over the next 13 minutes, Evansville was able to work its way back into the fold. The defense held the Sycamores to 6-of-22 from the field while closing the gap to just ten points at 30-20 with 1:26 remaining in the period. In their efforts to close even more, a foul on the UE bench turned the tides as ISU outscored the Aces by a 9-2 margin in the final segment on their way to a 39-22 halftime lead.
Gabe Spinelli set his career scoring high with 10 in the first half alone while Antoine Smith Jr. had five rebounds in the period.
After Kenny Strawbridge Jr. opened the second-half scoring, Indiana State responded with eight in a row as they opened a 47-24 lead with three minutes gone in the final stanza. Their pinpoint shooting continued as the advantage reached 34 points (65-31) with 11:14 showing on the clock.
Evansville would close within 25 points in the final 10 minutes but ISU finished the day with the 91-63 victory. ISU shot 48.3% in the game while holding UE to 38.1%.
On Sunday, UE opens the New Year at 1 p.m. against Murray State at the Ford Center. For the first, the Aces will wear black jerseys. Fans are encouraged to join UE in wearing black to the game.
