Health Center employee, Janet Turner, has been named the March 2014 IMPACT Employee of the Month. Janet is well known for her positive attitude towards her work, her co-workers, and UE students. One nomination noted that Janet has a servant's heart for our students at UE. She is ever ready to help them when they visit the health center. Janet truly cares about all the students she meets at UE. For years, Janet has taken students under her wings when they need a mom away from home. She contributes so much to the university and the students going above and beyond that which is expected of her. Janet Turner is an excellent example of what a UE employee of the month should exemplify.

The University Choir and the University Symphony Orchestra will offer a joint concert in Neu Chapel this Tuesday evening, March 4, at 7:30 p.m. Performing separately and together, they will offer music ranging from Viennese Classicism to the Modern Era. Highlights of the evening will include a performance of Mozart’s motet for soprano and orchestra, “Exsultate, jubilate,” featuring 2013 Vukovich Concerto Competition Winner, soprano Jia Yu How, accompanied by the orchestra with Director of Orchestral Activities Brian St. John conducting. Director of Choral Activities Dennis Malfatti will lead both ensembles in a performance of Haydn’s late Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese to conclude the evening. The concert is free and open to the public.

March is women’s history month so the Panhellenic Council has planned some activities to kick off the month.
• Monday, March 3 is International Badge Day, so we encourage all sorority women and fraternity men on campus to wear their badge or letters on Monday.

• On Tuesday-Thursday, March 4-6 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm daily in Ridgway University Center, there will be Penny Wars to support The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation. Circle of Sisterhood’s mission is to remove barriers and provide opportunities for women worldwide to receive an education. Please donate your spare change to one of the fraternity or sorority jars available in Ridgway.

• On Thursday, March 6 at 9:30 pm, SAB has graciously allotted their weekly movie slot to the Panhellenic Council so we can show the movie Miss Representation. The film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself. All are welcome to attend.

For more information contact Kim Cater (kc197) or Cara Wood (cf107)
 

There will be a fun get-together on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 pm in the Moore Hall Lobby. Spend an hour relaxing in the midst of studying for midterms. Feel free to bring your friends!

An Institute Speaker Series event with Paul Jones ’71, Executive Chairman, A.O. Smith Corporation, will be co-hosted by the Schroeder School of Business and the College of Engineering and Computer Science on Tuesday, March 4.  Jones will speak on Doing Business in China and India, a CEO’s Perspective at a student forum in the Ridgway University Center Room 252 on Tuesday, March 4 from 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.  This event will count towards the ACES Passport Program for business majors.

From humble beginnings in a small mid-western town to leader of a successful global company, Paul Jones will share the story of his leadership journey as he remade A.O. Smith Corporation and successfully took its value proposition of innovation to two of the largest emerging economies on the globe.  The forum is free and open to the entire campus community; those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP here.

Jones joined A.O. Smith in January 2004 as president and COO.  Prior to this, he held executive positions at U.S. Can Company, Greenfield Industries Inc., and General Electric where he successfully progressed through the ranks for 19 years.   Jones graduated from the University of Evansville with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1971 and serves on the University Board of Trustees.
 

Ash Wednesday is March 5 and will be observed on campus and in a brief noon-time service in Neu Chapel. Receive ‎"Ashes to Go” on the in Ridgway University Center for those who are unable to attend the service in Neu Chapel, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30p.m.

UE alum and Methodist minister, Mitchell Gieselman will be presiding over the service along with Student Chaplain, Michael Osei. All are welcome.

In the Christian church, Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, a 40-day period of discipline and study prior to the Festival of the Resurrection, Easter. You are invited to be imposed upon, remembering your mortality, but believing the Gospel. Repent!

Catholic Mass with the imposition of ashes will take place in Neu Chapel on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Bishop Charles Thompson of the Diocese of Evansville will be the celebrant, and UE students will fill the other liturgical ministries. Contact Mike Roesch at mr201 with any questions.

If you'll be in St. Louis cheering on the Aces in the MVC tourney, be sure to attend the pre-game event at Top Shelf in the Scottrade Center at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 6. Get in the spirit with other Aces fans. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by Mackey Mitchell and Associates and the UE Alumni Association.

Join us for a Special Coffee Hour featuring Professor of English William Baer sponsored by the Department of Creative Writing on Thursday, March 6, at 4:00 p.m. in the Melvin Peterson Gallery.

In his first reading ever,  Baer will read from his newest work.

The recipient of a Guggenheim, a Fulbright, and a creative writing grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Baer is the author of 16 books, including five collections of poetry, the first receiving the T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize and the fourth receiving the X.J. Kennedy Poetry Award. His work has appeared in over three hundred literary journals including: The American Scholar, The Hudson Review, The Iowa Review, The Kenyon Review, London Magazine, Ploughshares, Poetry, and The Southern Review.

Baer’s various plays have been produced at more than twenty-five American theaters, including the Metropolitan Playhouse of New York, Chicago Dramatists, and The 13th Street Theatre in Greenwich Village. His most recent play, Three Generations of Imbeciles, received the New Works of Merit National Playwriting Award and was chosen for the regionals of the 2013 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Baer currently teaches in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of Evansville and has served as the Melvin M. Peterson Endowed Chair in Literature and Writing.

Eduardo Mendoza-Santiago will discuss "The Classical Guitar in Evansville" at the Andiron Lecture on Wednesday, March 5. The lecture will be in Eykamp 252, Ridgway University Center, starting at 4 p.m. There will be a social gathering with beverages at 3:45 p.m.

Mendoza-Santiago earned a bachelor’s degree at the National School of Music in Mexico and a master’s degree at the IU School of Music where he participated with the Latin American Music Ensemble and the Ex Art Music Association. He is completing his doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota.

He has performed as a soloist in some of the most prestigious venues in Mexico City, which include the Fine Arts Palace, the National Museum of Art, and the National Center for the Arts. He has performed across the US and internationally and broadcasted live for radio UNAM in Mexico City and for Hola Bloomington in Indiana. He has also organized music festivals and given lectures on the history of classical music.

Mendoza-Santiago has won the Scott and Kathryn Schurz Scholarship, the Azcapotzalco Government Scholarship, and the IU-Jacobs School of Music Associate Instruction position, among others. He has been featured as a distinguished fellowship recipient for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota.

Classical guitar has had a slow but positive development within the field of fine arts around the world. In Evansville, there have been efforts to promote this genre with Professor Renato Butturi and the Classical Guitar Society. However, there is still more work to be done. Other universities within the Evansville area do not offer classical guitar degrees, and recitals and lessons are limited. This lecture will explore different ways in which classical guitar can be promoted, taught, and performed within the Evansville area.

For further information, call the series coordinator M. Christine Mohn at 812-488-2585 or the College of Arts and Sciences at 812-488-2589

Space is still available on the Harlaxton Summer 2014 program. Applications will be accepted through March 21. Forms and course info available in Office of Study Abroad SB 261.

Confirmed courses:

• BIOL 399; EXSS 488;
• HSA 406/506/499/599;
• NURS 395; SOC 105;
• SOC 386

For more information, send e-mail to bp66@evansville.edu.

The priority deadline for Harlaxton Spring 2015 applications has been extended to Friday, March 7. Applications will be accepted after that date on a space-available basis. Application forms and course information available in SB 261. For more info, send e-mail to bp66@evansville.edu.

Don't forget! Nominations for Student Government President, Vice President, Student Elected Trustee, and Academic Fund Board Chairperson are due Friday, March 7th by 5:00 PM. Applications can be turned in to the Center for Student Engagement. Email questions to Shaun Sizemore at ss485.

Due to the snow-day, the 20-minute,Prioritization Prayer Service has been rescheduled for Monday, March 17 at noon in Neu Chapel. Prayers will be offered for students, faculty, administrators, and staff as the Prioritization process continues in the reading of copious reports by members of our UE family. During the service, each division on campus will be named and prayed for, understanding that we are all in this process together. From its founding, UE has been a close-knit community and has always been a place of support and good cheer. The Prioritization Prayer Service will affirm that history and give a nod to our future together.

If you are unable to attend because of a prior commitment or day-to-day responsibilities, please feel free to send a prayer request to Tammy Gieselman, University Chaplain, tg85@evansville.edu. All prayer requests will be held in confidence unless otherwise noted as a public prayer request.

There will be no I-House this week. We will resume next week with I-House: Thailand. See you then!

Lisa Kretz delivered her paper "Emotional Responsibility and Teaching Ethics" at the 23rd Annual International Conference for the Association for Practical and Philosophical Ethics. In it she addresses various worries with regard to presenting depressing moral facts in classes without coupling that with empowerment methods for positive ethical change. A revised version will be presented at UE in the upcoming months!

Thanks to all seniors who attended Commencement Central last week. Crowds were good at both sessions. Congratuations to Jade Albin, the lucky winner of the iPad mini. Graduating seniors who did not attend should stop by the Office of the Registrar and also the University Bookstore to make sure they are ready for graduation day. Good luck to all seniors!

The Center for Career Development is hosting an internship selfie project. Send us a selfie of you at your internship or job, and be entered to win prizes. Pictures can be sent via email to career@evansville.edu, tagged on Facebook at UE Center for Career Development, tagged on Instagram @uecareers or on Twitter @UEcareers .

Nominations are now being accepted for consideration of The Howard S. Rosenblatt “Dean of Students Leadership Awards”.  These awards will be presented at the 21st Annual Leadership Awards Reception scheduled for April 24. 

Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Student Organization Advisor of the Year
• Student Organization of the Year
• Student Leader of the Year

Over 80% of UE students participate in at least one student organization or program.  These organizations are successful because of the commitment of the student leaders and the advisors who give freely of their time and support.  The recipients of these awards are selected based on their commitment to the University of Evansville as well as the development and success of their efforts within their chosen student organization.

The deadline for nominations is March 28.  Please click http://acelink.evansville.edu/areas/studentaffairs/files/DOSAwardsNominationApplication.pdf to download a nomination form or stop by Room 230 in the Ridgway University Center to pick up a nomination form from the Dean of Students Office. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students at extension 2500 or by e-mail at km306@evansville.edu. 

Thank you in advance for celebrating our student leaders’ achievements.

Three Purple Aces men’s basketball players were honored by the Missouri Valley Conference with berths on All-Conference Teams in an announcement by the league on Tuesday.

Leading the way was sophomore D.J. Balentine, who became the sixth-ever UE player to be named to the First Team. Balentine finished the regular season as the league’s leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, a tally that had him in the top ten in the nation for the duration of the year. He is also the top free throw shooter in the MVC at 85.2%.

Balentine follows in the footsteps of Colt Ryan, who was named to the squad in each of the last two seasons. Shy Ely, Craig Snow, Marcus Wilson (2x) and Andy Elkins also earned First Team honors in the MVC. His top outing this season for the Aces came in the road game at UNI as he tallied 43 points, a career-high.

Egidijus Mockevicius earned a pair of team honors as he was named All-Conference Honorable Mention and All-Defensive Team. Also a sophomore, Mockevicius was one of the top players on both sides of the floor this season. He led the league in rebounding (8.2/game) and shooting (63.1%) while following up a strong freshman campaign with 56 blocked shots, second in the conference.

He became the first Evansville player in 20 seasons to earn eight double-doubles in a season with six of those coming against Valley opponents.

Blake Simmons played his way onto the All-Freshman squad, marking the seventh freshman to appear on the squad in head coach Marty Simmons’ seven seasons at the helm of the program.

Simmons finished the season as the top scoring true freshman in the MVC, averaging 9.6 points. His top efforts came against league competition as 11 of his 17 double digit games came against conference foes.

2014 All-Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Team

First Team Yr. Pos. Ht. Hometown

• Ron Baker, Wichita State So. G 6-3 Scott City (Kan.) High
• D.J. Balentine, Evansville So. G 6-2 Kokomo (Ind.) High
• Cleanthony Early, Wichita St. Sr. F 6-8 Middletown (N.Y.) Pine Bush HS / Sullivan JC
• Jake Odum, Indiana State Sr. G 6-4 Terre Haute (Ind.) South Vigo High
• Seth Tuttle, UNI Jr. F 6-8 Sheffield (Iowa) West Fork High
• Fred VanVleet, Wichita St. So. G 5-11 Rockford (Ill.) Auburn High

Second Team

• Anthony Beane, S. Illinois So. G 6-2 Normal (Ill.) High
• Tekele Cotton, Wichita St. Jr. G 6-2 Marietta (Ga.) Whitefield Academy
• Jarmar Gulley, Missouri St. Sr. F 6-5 Beaumont (Texas) Central Medical Magnet
• Desmar Jackson, S. Illinois Sr. G 6-5 Warren (Ohio) Harding High / Wyoming
• Walt Lemon, Jr., Bradley Sr. G 6-3 Chicago (Ill.) Julian High

Honorable-Mention Selections

• Manny Arop, Indiana St. Sr. G-F 6-5 Edmonton (Alberta) / St. Mary's Secondary Catholic / Gonzaga
• Richard Carter, Drake Sr. G 5-11 Detroit (Mich.) Cody High / Cloud County
• Milton Doyle, Loyola Fr. G 6-4 Chicago (Ill.) Marshall High / Kansas
• Daishon Knight, Illinois St. Jr. G 6-1 Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton High / Maine Ctrl. Institute / Odessa (Texas) College
• Egidijus Mockevicius, UE So. C 6-10 Kursenai (Lithuania) / Lithuanian Univ. of Educational Services

All-Newcomer Team

• Darius Carter, Wichita St. Jr. F 6-7 Akron (Ohio) Firestone HS / Vincennes JC
• Milton Doyle, Loyola Fr. G 6-4 Chicago (Ill.) Marshall High / Kansas
• Daishon Knight, Illinois St. Jr. G 6-1 Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton High / Maine Ctrl. Institute / Odessa (Texas) College
• Reggie Lynch, Illinois St. Fr. C 6-10 Edina (Minn.) High
• Wes Washpun, UNI So. G 6-1 Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Washington HS / Tenn.

All-Freshman Team

• Milton Doyle, Loyola Fr. G 6-4 Chicago (Ill.) Marshall High / Kansas
• Jeremy Morgan, UNI Fr. G 6-5 Coralville (Iowa) Iowa City West High
• Reggie Lynch, Illinois St. Fr. C 6-10 Edina (Minn.) High
• Austin Ruder, Missouri St. Fr. G 6-3 Nixa (Mo.) High
• Blake Simmons, Evansville Fr. G-F 6-5 Newburgh (Ind.) Castle High

All-Defensive Team

• Tekele Cotton, Wichita St. Jr. G 6-2 Marietta (Ga.) Whitefield Academy
• Desmar Jackson, S. Illinois Sr. G 6-5 Warren (Ohio) Harding High / Wyoming
• Walt Lemon, Jr., Bradley Sr. G 6-3 Chicago (Ill.) Julian High
• Fred VanVleet, Wichita St. So. G 5-11 Rockford (Ill.) Auburn High
• Egidijus Mockevicius, UE So. C 6-10 Kursenai (Lithuania) / Lithuanian Univ. of Educational Services

The University of Evansville women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day with a 72-65 win over visiting Missouri State Saturday afternoon at the Ford Center to move to an even .500 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The victory was also the sixth-straight for UE.

Junior Kat Taylor scored a game-high 22 points and tallied six assists to lead a pair of Evansville (13-14, 8-8 MVC) players in double figures, as freshman Sara Dickey dropped in 11 points, including nine in the second half. Junior Mallory Ladd led all players with eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.

The Aces jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first three minutes of the contest, as Taylor scored the first eight points of the game and UE's defense forced three Missouri State (13-15, 8-9 MVC) turnovers.

The Lady Bears got their first field goal of the game, when Bry Snow converted on a layup at the 15:36 mark, before Evansville countered with a 14-4 run to extend the advantage to 24-8, when Dakota Weatherford banked in a layup to force an MSU timeout with 8:39 left in the opening stanza.

Senior Miranda Liles gave the Aces their largest lead of the game at 29-10 by draining a 10-foot jumper and UE would take a 39-26 advantage into the locker room.

Evansville shot 51.6 percent in the first 20 minutes (16-for-31) and connected on five of its 14 first-half three-point attempts. Missouri State made 11 of 31 first-half shot attempts (35.5 percent) and went 2-for-8 from beyond the arc (25. 0 percent).

The Aces scored the first four points of the second half to go up, 43-28, but the Lady Bears quickly whittled away UE's lead by going on an 18-8 run that was capped by a Tyonna Snow layup, bringing MSU to within five, 51-46, with 12:40 remaining.

After an Evansville timeout, Dickey drained a triple from the left wing and freshman Sasha Robinson made a layup following a Missouri State turnover to put the Aces back in front by double digits at 56-46 at the 12:10 mark.

The two sides would trade baskets for much of the remainder of the game, but MSU would cut the lead back to five on a pair of occasions, including with 46 seconds remaining, when Tyonna Snow made a layup, making the score, 70-65.

The Lady Bears forced a turnover on Evansville's ensuing possession, but UE was able to secure the win, after missed jumpers from Katie Palmer and NiJay Gaines in the final 30 seconds.

Palmer led MSU with 15 points off the bench and Bry Snow finished with 14 for the Lady Bears, who shot 38.8 percent for the game (26-for-67) and went 5-for-19 from three-point range (26.3 percent).

The Aces finished the afternoon with a 50.0 percent shooting clip (28-for-56) and finished 8-for-22 from distance (36.4 percent).

UE will wrap up its 2013-14 regular season next weekend, when Evansville travels to Bradley and Loyola. The Aces will play the Braves Thursday, March 6, in Peoria, Ill., at 7 p.m., before wrapping up the season against the Ramblers Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. in Chicago.

University of Evansville senior left-hander Cole Isom and junior reliever Matt Rodgers combined on Evansville's second 1-0 shutout victory of the weekend on Saturday, as the Purple Aces split an afternoon doubleheader against the Western Illinois University Leathernecks at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.

After the Leathernecks used a nine-run sixth-inning explosion in game one to take a 12-1 victory, Isom (1-0) quickly silenced the WIU bats in the nightcap, scattering seven singles in seven-plus innings of work. Rodgers then came out of the UE bullpen to toss two shutout innings to record his first save as a Purple Ace to preserve the 1-0 victory.

"We were fortunate this weekend to get a series victory with the way that we swung the bats offensively," said UE head coach Wes Carroll. "But, we were able to get two great starts by junior Kyle Freeland and senior Cole Isom on the mound to give us a chance to get the series victory, and that is the most important thing.

"Cole really did a good job of setting the tone in the center of the diamond in game two for us today after we lost the opener, and really picked up the team. Matt then did a great job of throwing strikes out of the bullpen to close things out. At the end of the day, it's a series victory, and we'll take it."

After Evansville (6-4) held Western Illinois scoreless for 14 innings in Friday night's series' opener, the Leathernecks needed less than 14 pitches to get on the scoreboard in the opener, thanks to an RBI double by outfielder Neil DeCook and an RBI ground out by first baseman Tanner Glore to build a 2-0 lead.

UE would give up an unearned run in the second inning, before junior catcher Kyle Pollock launched his first home run of the year to left-center field in the third inning to cut the WIU lead to 3-1. The score would remain 3-1 until the sixth inning, when the Leathernecks exploded for nine runs on 10 hits to break the game open and grab a 12-1 victory behind a complete-game effort from starter Tyler Willman (1-1).

In the nightcap, Isom and WIU starter Tom Constand (0-2) kept both offenses at bay until the third inning, when UE scratched across the game's only run on a run-scoring wild pitch with the bases loaded to grab a 1-0 lead. WIU would threaten by loading the bases with one out in the fourth inning, but Isom would get out of things with a double-play ground ball to short, and Isom and Rodgers would combine to strand eight Leathernecks on the basepaths in the victory.

Senior Jake Mahon led Evansville offensively in the doubleheader by recording three hits, while Pollock had two hits, including his first home run of the year in game one for UE. Glore paced WIU offensively in the doubleheader with five hits, including going 4-for-4 in the nightcap against Isom and Rodgers.

Due to expected wintry conditions in the Evansville area on Sunday, the series finale between the two schools has been cancelled. The Purple Aces will return to the diamond next on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., as UE will travel south to Clarksville, Tennessee to take on defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Austin Peay State University in a non-conference contest.

The University of Evansville softball team kept its hot streak alive, winning two games on Saturday afternoon at Cooper Stadium. The Purple Aces (7-4) beat Northern Illinois University by a score of 12-7 in game one, and in game two UE beat Northern Kentucky by a score of 8-7.

Coach Mark Redburn loved how his team performed on the offensive side of the ball: “It was a great day for us, even though the weather was a little suspect, our kids were able to establish themselves offensively in the first game and that set the tone for the day. Throughout the afternoon we kept coming back, whether it was after a two run inning by the other teams or the other teams tying the game, we were able to fight back and hold them off all afternoon. It was a great offensive day for us, I was extremely happy with our offense and I think that was the big difference for us.”

Game One – UE vs NIU
In game one for the Purple Aces against Northern Illinois, Evansville fell behind in the top of the first as NIU would score two runs off of junior Megan Gurski. UE wouldn’t let that discourage them, as the Aces rattled off four runs in the top of the first. Four Purple Aces would have an RBI in the first, Gurski, Susan Norris, Kirsten O’Conner and Michal Luckett.
Evansville didn’t look back as they would lead the rest of the game. In the bottom of the second UE added two more runs as Kayla Fortner and Gurski drove in two more.

NIU was held scoreless in the top of the third and freshman Chandra Parr drove in Victoria Dellorto for another run, UE up 7-2 at the bottom of the third.

Northern Illinois would add three runs in the top of the fourth to cut the Aces lead, 7-5. The bottom of the fourth was the only inning that no runs were scored for UE.

The bottom of the fifth saw a double by freshman Emma Buckles that would drive in two, putting Evansville up 9-5. Gurski would also double in the bottom of the fifth driving in one more run for UE.
NIU would add two more runs in the top of the sixth before the Aces came back with two of their own on a Courtney Land triple.

Briana Combs would retire three batters in the top of the seventh and that would be the ball game with a final score of 12-7. Megan Gurski (3-2) got the win in the circle for Evansville, throwing four strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
 
Game Two – NKU vs UE
After a hot offensive start in game one for Evansville, the Purple Aces weren’t looking to slow down.  UE, who was the home-team visitor in this game, would strike first posting two runs on the board in the top of the first. Kayla Fortner and Megan Gurski would both double, bringing in a run each and that would put the Aces up 2-0.
Evansville never trailed in the game against the Norse, but NKU didn’t make it easy. In the bottom of the second Northern Kentucky would post two runs of its own, tying the game 2-2.

The Purple Aces would fight back like Coach Redburn talked about, and this was definitely one of those innings. UE would score two runs in the top of the third on a Megan Gurski homerun. The Norse would score two of their own in the bottom of the third, tying the game at four runs apiece.

UE would yet again fight back from NKU’s two runs and score two more of their own in the top of the fifth, putting UE up 6-4, but Northern Kentucky wouldn’t let up, scoring two runs as well to tie the game at six all.

Evansville would fight back one more time and that would be all the Aces needed. UE scored two runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI by Michal Luckett and Victoria Dellorto.

Gurski came in for senior Emily Morris (3-2) and would only allow one run in 3.0 innings.

Morris, who got the win for the Aces, started the second game for UE posting a stat line of 4 runs and a strikeout in 2.0 innings. Annie Moore came in and pitched 2.0 innings as well, only allowing two runs with a strikeout.

UE will host the Aces Invitational next weekend from March 8-9 at Cooper Stadium. The tournament will feature IPFW and Murray State.

Freshman Duane Gibson posted his top game of Missouri Valley Conference play, posting 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team held on for a 75-72 win at Loyola on Saturday afternoon at Gentile Arena.

Gibson hit all four of his free throw attempts in the contest while scoring a pair of crucial baskets down the stretch. D.J. Balentine was the leading scorer for UE (13-18, 6-12 MVC), tallying 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Jaylon Moore also posted double figures, totaling 11 while hitting 4 of his 5 attempts.

Loyola (9-21, 4-14 MVC) was led by Joe Crisman, who finished with 20 points. Christian Thomas posted 17.

Evansville's offense got off to a quick start as Adam Wing knocked down a pair of early baskets with UE hitting five of its first seven shots. Blake Simmons registered assists on three of those baskets with the run being capped off by Jaylon Moore. D.J. Balentine found Moore open for a powerful dunk before Moore hit a pair of free throws to give the Aces their first double digit lead at 14-4. The Ramblers committed four turnovers in that span.

That hot start continued as the Aces hit 6 of their first 8 attempts en route to an 18-6 lead. Wing hit his first three shots while Moore also tallied six early tallies. Loyola was able to hold the edge around 10 points thank to the play of Christian Thomas, who posted 8 of their first 10 Rambler points.

Inside of seven minutes remaining in the opening frame, Duane Gibson hit his second bucket of the game as the Aces matched their largest lead of 12 points at 26-14, but the Ramblers fought right back. A Cody Johnson dunk spurted a 6-0 stretch as the Ramblers got within six at 26-20. Balentine ended the stretch, hitting the first triple of the game for either team to extend the lead back to nine.

In the final 1:31 of the half, Gibson hit two more shots to finish the frame 5-of-7 from the field with 10 points as the Aces took a 37-27 lead into the break. Evansville was 15-of-17 from the floor in the half, shooting 55.6% while Loyola checked in at 12-24. Balentine was the half's top scorer with 11 tallies.

Out of the half, Evansville came out firing on all cylinders in the opening four minutes. The Aces reeled off the opening eight tallies of the frame as Balentine and Mockevicius showed tremendous energy. Balentine highlighted the run in one sequence that featured a block, rebound and trip to the free throw line. That rally helped UE take its largest lead of the game at 45-28.

After missing their first eight attempts of the half, Cody Johnson hit his first trey of the game to put Loyola back on the board. The second triple of the game for Devon Turk saw the Ramblers cut the deficit to 14 inside of 13 minutes remaining. As the Ramblers threatened to cut their deficit to single digits, Jaylon Brown assisted in the effort to halt their run, hitting a pair of shots over the next four minutes as the Ramblers would get within 11 points on two occasions.

With six minutes left and fouls 10-4 in Loyola's favor, Milton Doyle stepped to the line, knocking down a free throw to make it a 10-point UE lead at 62-52. Just two minutes later, Doyle connected on an and-one as Loyola got the deficit back into singles digits for the first time in the half at 64-55.

Things started to get interesting in the final two minutes. Gibson knocked down a pair of shots as UE held a 69-59 lead just inside of the 3 minute mark, but the Ramblers garnered three points on a possession with 1:30 left to cut the gap to 69-62. The ensuing UE possession saw Gibson hit both free throws, but Thomas’ first triple from outside got Loyola even closer at 71-65 with 65 ticks remaining.

Evansville was unable to convert a layup as Loyola got the ball back with Doyle headed back to the stripe. He drained both as the game got even closer at 71-67 and on the inbound, Joe Chrisman added to his career day, stealing the ball and getting fouled on a layup where he converted to get the lead to one at 71-70.

With their backs against the wall, the Aces ran the offense to perfection as Balentine finished the possession off with a reverse layup to put UE back up by three with 14 seconds left. The teams swapped free throws leading to a final shot for Loyola to tie it up. A trey at the buzzer fell short as UE was able to take the 75-72 win.

The Aces finished with a 31-28 rebounding edge while shooting 56.6% from the field. UE held Loyola to 45.1% overall. Of UE’s 75 total points, 46 came in the paint.

Arch Madness is up next as the Aces enter the tournament as the No. 9 seed and will be pitted against No. 8 Drake. Scottrade Center will play host to the event, which UE and Drake will open on Thursday evening at 6:05 p.m. The game will be televised on the MVC TV Network and tickets are also still available.

A full team effort saw the University of Evansville women’s tennis team defeat Austin Peay by a 6-1 final on Friday evening.
A quick start saw the Aces grab the doubles tally as Natasha James and Kelsey Costales topped Andra Cornea and Ornella Di Salvo by an 8-7 (6) final.  Marketa Trousilova and Marina Moreno clinched that point for the Purple Aces as they defeated Vanessa Tavares and Isabela Jovanovic, 8-0.  In third flight doubles, Andjela Brguljan and Mina Milovic were defeated by Hannah Tatlock and Jovana Karac, 8-5.

Singles play saw five of the six efforts go Evansville’s way.  Highlighting that was Costales, whose point was the clincher for the Aces.  In the third group, the topped Tavares, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.  Trousilova played in the first group where she defeated Cornea, 6-3, 6-2.

Flight four singles saw Moreno shut down Karac, 6-0, 6-0 while Brguljan continued to show improvement in the fifth slot, getting past Tatlock in two sets, 6-1, 6-4.  Milovic defeated Jovanovic in flight six, 8-5 (6).  Group two saw James fall to Di Salvo, 6-3, 7-5.

Due to inclement weather that is being forecasted for the area on Sunday, Evansville’s scheduled match at IUPUI has been postponed.  It will now take place on Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m. and will now be an outdoor match in Indianapolis.

Next week, the Aces will be in Florida for three matches, beginning on March 10 when they face South Dakota in Tampa.  On the 11th, UE takes on Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers before facing off against James Madison on March 13.