EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- D.J. Balentine knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers barely four minutes into the game to give Evansville the lead for good in a 75-66 win over Southern Illinois Saturday in a game honoring the Purple Aces 1964-65 NCAA Division II national championship team.

Balentine scored nine straight points, lifting Evansville (15-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley Conference) from a 7-2 deficit with 16 minutes left to an 11-7 lead en route to a 39-24 halftime advantage. Balentine finished with 25 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 3 of 5 from distance, and 10 of 13 from the free-throw line.

Anthony Beane scored 19 points and Jordan Caroline added 15 more to lead the Salukis (9-12, 2-6).

The game was played in front of members of the 1964-65 squad that went 29-0 and won Evansville's fourth National Championship. The Purple Aces beat Southern Illinois in the title game.