Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over Missouri State in Thrilling MVC Clash

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Four Purple Aces netted in double digits as the University of Evansville men’s basketball squad concluded the 2024 calendar year with a 57-40 victory over Missouri State on Sunday afternoon at the Ford Center.

Box Score

Cam Haffner topped the scoring with 13 points while Josh Hughes and Tayshawn Comer each contributed 11. Tanner Cuff rounded off the game with 10 points. Hughes grabbed nine rebounds whereas Cuff contributed eight. Dez White was the top scorer for the Bears, registering 12 points, while Michael Osei-Bonsu achieved a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

“This was a great team performance for us; our defense came out prepared and it was evident,” UE head coach David Ragland commented. “Our players truly rose to the occasion and played a tough game. We are delighted to showcase this level of effort in front of our home supporters.”

The first half was low-scoring, with the Purple Aces securing a 23-20 lead at halftime. Cam Haffner hit a three-pointer to get UE off the mark, resulting in a 5-5 tie four minutes into the game. The Bears regained the lead at 7-5 before Evansville edged ahead 9-7 thanks to a basket from Josh Hughes.

As the final five minutes of the period approached, the Bears had their greatest lead of the half at 19-15. Tayshawn Comer made a field goal that sparked an 8-1 surge, allowing UE to regain the lead by halftime. Connor Turnbull found Kaia Berridge for an open three-pointer, followed by Turnbull netting his own basket, helping UE to a 23-20 advantage at the break.

Missouri State connected on a three-pointer in their first possession of the second half, but Haffner quickly responded. Consecutive three-pointers by Hughes led to Evansville’s largest lead at 34-25 with 16 minutes left. The Bears answered with five unanswered points to narrow it down to four, but Connor Turnbull took charge. Back-to-back baskets by the junior were succeeded by a Cuff field goal, extending UE’s lead to 10 – 40-30 – with 12 minutes remaining.

In the next four minutes, the Bears scored six consecutive points, but they could have done more damage. As a team, MSU made just one out of their nine field goal attempts while attempting to chip away at the deficit. After establishing a 10-point cushion, Evansville missed its next four tries, but when the clock hit eight minutes, Haffner nailed a three-pointer with Comer assisting to extend the lead to 43-36. Michael Day also played a crucial role in that possession, collecting an offensive rebound off a missed free throw.

Day made his impact known shortly after, sinking a three-pointer that pushed the lead to 13 – 51-38 – with under five minutes to go. The margin swelled to as much as 18 in the closing moments, as the Aces finished the day with a 57-40 triumph.

Evansville shot 38.3% while restricting the Bears to 25.9% from the field and 20% from three-point range. MSU had a 41-35 advantage in rebounds. Comer topped all players with five assists.

MVC action continues on Wednesday as UE heads to Carbondale to challenge Southern Illinois in a game set for 1 p.m.