Aces on the road for next two games
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Missouri Valley Conference play continues this weekend as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Chicago to take on Loyola on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
Evansville led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but Wichita State cut the halftime gap to three before outscoring the Aces by a 52-32 margin in the second half to earn an 82-65 win on Tuesday evening. Jaylon Brown scored 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including four triples while Ryan Taylor registered 17.
Dru Smith had one of his best all-around efforts for UE, notching 9 rebounds and 7 assists in 33 minutes, all career highs. The Aces head to Loyola on Saturday, looking to make it a perfect 4-0 in their last four trips to Gentile Arena; despite winning the last three road contests against Loyola, the total margin in those contests is just 13 points.
Jaylon Brown has done a great job of getting to the line and making those efforts pay off this season. His 126 made free throws in 2016-17 ranks second in the country while his 149 attempts is 5th. On January 4 versus Bradley, Brown connected on 17 free throws, which is the third-best game in Division I this season.
At the top of the scoring charts for the Aces this season, Jaylon Brown and Ryan Taylor have been dominant. The duo has combined for 34 overall double-figure scoring games and 14 in Valley play. The rest of the team has accumulated just 14 overall efforts in double digits and four in the MVC games.
A 72-69 loss in double overtime at UNI on Wednesday evening saw Loyola fall to 13-7 overall and 3-4 in the Valley. Four Ramblers average double figures, led by Milton Doyle; Doyle has started all 20 contests and leads the way with 15.9 points per game and team-highs in assists (95) and blocks (14). Aundre Jackson is next up with 14.7 PPG while Donte Ingram stands with 13.8 PPG and a team-high 6.5 boards. Clayton Custer completes the double figure scorers for Loyola with 12.2 points. Ingram was the leading scorer for the Ramblers against the Panthers on Wednesday, notching 19 points and 9 rebounds while Custer added 16 in the double OT defeat.
Since Loyola joined the MVC in 2013, the Aces have won five out of six meetings versus the Ramblers, including all three visits to Gentile Arena. Overall, Evansville has a 26-17 lead in the series and is 11-8 on the road against Loyola.
