Evansville Purple Aces @ Southern Illinois Salukis
Evansville beats Southern Illinois in overtime 85-78
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- D.J. Balentine and Mislav Brzoja each scored 25 points, a career high for Brzoja, and Evansville beat Southern Illinois 85-78 in overtime Thursday night.
Adam Wing and Brzoja scored four points each in an 8-3 run to open overtime for a lead 79-74 with 1:42 left. Anthony Beane scored four points to get the Salukis within one but the Purple Aces scored the final six points, four by Balentine.
Regulation ended with three 3-pointers in the final 34 seconds with Brzoja tying it before Leo Vincent connected with six seconds left for SIU. But Balentine hit a long fadeway trey to send the game into overtime.
Jaylon Brown added 15 points and Egidijus Mockevicius 10 points and eight rebounds for the Purple Aces (18-4, 7-2 Missouri Valley), who shot 55 percent.
Beane finished with 30 points, Sean O'Brien 16 and Vincent 11 for the Salukis (18-4, 7-2), who saw their four-game win streak end.
Game Information
Carbondale, IL
Referee:Gerry Pollard
Referee:Kelly Self
Referee:John Higgins
2025-26 Standings
| Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 16-4 | - | 26-6 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 3 | 21-13 |
| Illinois State | 12-8 | 4 | 23-13 |
| Murray State | 12-8 | 4 | 20-13 |
| UIC | 12-8 | 4 | 19-16 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 23-13 |
| Valparaiso | 11-9 | 5 | 18-15 |
| Southern Illinois | 10-10 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Drake | 6-14 | 10 | 14-20 |
| Indiana State | 4-16 | 12 | 11-21 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |
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