Three register double figure for Purple Aces
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three players scored in double figures as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team earned an 83-39 win over Wabash College on Tuesday night at the Ford Center.
Leading the way for the Purple Aces (3-4) was Ryan Taylor. He hit eight shots on his way to 21 points. Next up was Willie Wiley as he hit 6 of his 7 attempts on his way to 14 points. Jaylon Brown recorded 11 points.
“We had just one day of practice after the trip to Nashville and our emphasis was on pushing the ball down the floor,” head coach Marty Simmons said. “The start of the second half was much better and we were able to do more of what we wanted to do.”
Wabash (2-3) was led by a 13-point effort from Duncan Roy while Evan Frank finished the night with 11.
Wiley scored ten points in the first half as the Purple Aces took a 43-28 lead into the locker room. After missing the first five shots of the night, UE hit its first as a David Howard bucket put the squad up 7-3 at the 15:05 mark. That bucket was the first of three makes in four attempts as Evansville went up 13-8.
The lead reached as many as 22 with 3:19 left in the half as another Howard make put the Aces up 39-17. Wabash cut into the gap, outscoring UE by an 11-4 margin to trail by 15 at the half. Christian Benzon hit the first triple of his career in the first half en route to five points. Wiley hit four of his five attempts in the opening 20 minutes.
Evansville regrouped in the locker room and came out looking sharp, scoring the first ten points of the second half. Ryan Taylor knocked down a pair of triples as UE opened up a 53-28 lead. The shots kept falling for UE as they led by as many as 44 points, which was the final of 83-39.
Defense was the name of the game for the Aces as they held the Little Giants to just 22.2% shooting for the game and 7.7% (2-26) in the second half. Evansville finished the game shooting 47.7%. One major difference for UE was the bench, earning 51 points with all 11 players who saw the floor find their way into the score book.
Two of those off the bench had their top games at UE. Jaiveon Eaves hit three shots while notching two rebounds and two assists while Solomon Hainna notched five points and six boards.
Boise State comes to the Ford Center to face the Aces on Saturday. Game time is 1 p.m.
