EVANSVILLE, Ind.—
Phillip Crawford scored a season-high 22 points on eight of 12 shooting, but Evansville (6-4) was able to defeat the Hornets 80-67.
In a story that has become too much of a common theme this season, the Hornets (1-8) inability to keep the opposition off the boards and turnovers proved to be the downfall. Evansville out rebounded ASU 36-27 and 15 of those offensive rebounds. The offensive rebounds along with 22 ASU turnovers led to 45 Purple Aces points, which was well over half of their points.
“I thought we scored enough points, but our defensive rebounding has to improve and we have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball,” Head Coach
Lewis Jackson said. “We had 22 turnovers tonight and the team didn't even press us. We had careless passes and just tried to do too much with the basketball and that is really costing us.”
“We came out and played with a lot of energy, but again, we have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball and then we have to rebound on the other end.”
Shawntez Patterson scored 13 points for the Hornets and Denzell McDaniel had 11 in his first start of the season. He also had five assists.
“Phillip was shooting the ball well and hitting the mid-range shot during the game,” Jackson said. “He had some strong post moves around the basket and just the opposite of what he was in our last home game where he missed all six of his free throws, tonight he hit all six of his free throws.”
ASU shot over 46 percent from the field and hit eight of their 21 (.381) three point attempts. ASU also did a better job at the free throw line connecting on 11 of their 15 attempts for 73.3 percent.
Ryan Colt led Evansville with a game-high 24 points. Ryan Sawvell added 11 points and Jaylon Moore had 10. Evansville shot 47 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three point line. The Purple Aces shot 33 free throws and connected on 26 of those for 79 percent, outscoring ASU by 15 at the free throw line.
“We have to hone in on the things we are not doing well like rebounding the basketball,” Jackson said. “In our two previous ball games we had done a pretty good job on the boards, but tonight we gave up 15 offensive rebounds and we allowed their shooters to get open looks at the basket and that is always going to be tough especially when you are playing on the road.”
Colt led Evansville out of the gate with 14 first-half points as the Purple Aces led 46-29 at the break. Evansville shot 52 percent from the field and also hit four of their seven three point attempts.
When Evansville was not shooting from the field, they were able to get to the free throw line where they attempted 17 first half free throws and hit 12 of those.
Crawford scored 10 of ASU's first 14 points, but picked up his second foul of the half only nine minutes into the game and missed the final 11 minutes of the half.
ASU shot 46 percent from the field, but gave up 24 points on second chance points and off their 14 turnovers.
The Hornets will continue their road trip as the travel to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech Monday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. (CT). The game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and also on ESPN3.
