It’s the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, better known as Arch Madness, coming to you from the Gateway City. The 12th-seeded Evansville Purple Aces are the “road” team as they take on the fifth-seeded Indiana State Sycamores Thursday afternoon with the winner advancing to take on fourth-seeded Belmont in the quarterfinals. Evansville was dropped 72-53 by Illinois State in their previous contest Sunday on the road, failing to cover as a 10-point underdog. Indiana State fell 66-62 at home to Missouri State in their regular season finale Sunday, losing outright as an eight-point favorite. In the all-time series between the teams, the Sycamores own a 46-38 advantage and have won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including the last three. Indiana State picked up an 83-65 road win in the most recent meeting February 1.
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Evansville stumbled again in 2022-23, dropping five straight and 17 of their last 18 in the regular season after getting drubbed by Illinois State on the road Sunday. The Purple Aces limp into the MVC Tournament with a 5-26 mark overall and they were just 1-19 in the conference on the season. Against Illinois State, Evansville took a 6-0 lead out of the gate but couldn’t maintain that momentum as they trailed by three at intermission. In the second half, the Purple Aces were outscored 41-25 and never managed to regain their early advantage. Evansville was held to 37.5% shooting from the field, including five of 16 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 36-21 in the contest. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. led the Purple Aces with 12 points and six rebounds in the loss.
The Purple Aces put up an average of 62.5 points per game last season, putting them 350th in the nation in s coring offense. Evansville grabs 31.5 rebounds a night (331st) and dishes out an average of 10.2 assists per contest. The Purple Aces are well below average defensively, as they enter this game allowing 75.3 points per contest, putting them 320th in scoring defense. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. leads the team with 14.5 points per game on the season. Yacine Toumi (10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds) and Blaise Beauchamp (8.6 points) provide secondary scoring for the Purple Aces. Antoine Smith Jr., Marvin Coleman II (11 points, 5.3 rebounds), Sekou Kalle, Preston Phillips, Gage Bobe and Gage Spinelli are needed to contribute on both ends for the team to succeed. Evansville shoots only 39.9% from the floor as a team on the year, leaving them 354th in Division I. The Purple Aces splash 6.2 three-pointers a night while shooting 32.1% from beyond the arc. Evansville cashes in a dismal 63% of their chances at the free throw line this season, which is 357th in th e nation.
Beauchamp left the program in early December and entered the transfer portal on December 7, taking a perimeter threat out of the lineup. Kalle (shoulder) has been out since January 4 and has no timetable to return.
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