February 02, 20191st2ndFinal
Valparaiso272653
Evansville244064
Stats at a GlanceVALPOUE
FG Percentage.429 (21-49) .429 (21-49)
3P FG Percentage.200 (2-10) .350 (7-20)
FT Percentage.529 (9-17) .714 (15-21)
Offensive Rebounds25
Defensive Rebounds2630
Total Rebounds2835
Turnovers1110
Steals68
Bench Points1421
LeadersVALPOUE
PointsJavon Freeman - 12
Markus Golder - 12
Hill - 14
ReboundsJavon Freeman - 6
Riley - 12
AssistsDeion Lavender - 2
Daniel Sackey - 2
Bakari Evelyn - 2
Givance - 5
StealsJavon Freeman - 2
Bakari Evelyn - 2
Hill - 1
Newton - 1
Givance - 1
Kuhlman - 1
Feehan - 1
Frederking - 1
Riley - 1
Hall - 1
BlocksJaume Sorolla - 1
Derrik Smits - 1
Newton - 1
Chatkevicius - 1
BoxscorePlay-by-Play1st Half2nd Half
Valpo Falls on Road at Evansville Saturday
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Valpo Falls on Road at Evansville Saturday
Deion Lavender looks to drive Saturday against Evansville. (Bob Pristach)

The Valparaiso University men’s basketball team was unable to turn a halftime lead into a road victory Saturday afternoon at Evansville, as the Purple Aces outscored Valpo by 14 in the second half as Valpo lost by a 64-53 final.

How It Happened

  • After giving up the first basket of the game, Valpo scored the next 11 points – six of which came from freshman Daniel Sackey (Winnipeg, Man./Thornlea) – to go ahead 11-3 eight minutes into the ballgame.
  • Valpo surrendered just eight points to Evansville over the first 13 minutes of the game, as a jumper from the returning Markus Golder (Portland, Ore./Clackamas [North Idaho]) put Valpo ahead 16-8 at that point.
  • Evansville outscored Valpo 16-8 over the next six minutes to even the game at 24 apiece.
  • Valpo took a 27-24 lead into the locker room as freshman Javon Freeman (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) connected on a step-back 3-pointer in the final seconds of the half.
  • Baskets in the opening 90 seconds of the second half from Sackey and Freeman pushed the lead to 31-24 with 18:30 to play.
  • Evansville came back with a 15-3 run over the next seven minutes, including nine points in a row to end the run, as the Purple Aces went ahead 39-34 with under 12 minutes to play.
  • Valpo answered with a run keyed by Golder, who scored seven points in less than two minutes as part of an 8-0 spurt which put the Brown and Gold ahead 42-39 with 9:39 to play.
  • The teams traded baskets on their respective next possessions – Valpo’s coming on a driving finish from senior Deion Lavender (Alton, Ill./Marquette Catholic [UAB/Southern Illinois]) – to make it 44-41 with 9:04 remaining.
  • Valpo would be stuck on 44 points for over three minutes as Evansville went on the key 11-0 run to pull ahead 52-44 with 5:56 to play. The Brown and Gold had a shot to get to within three points less than a minute later, but it was off the mark and Valpo trailed by six or more the rest of the way.

Inside the Game

  • The loss was just Valpo’s second of the year when leading at halftime (8-2).
  • Valpo has lost four consecutive games, but still sits at 5-5 in the MVC standings.
  • Valpo has dropped 22 straight road games at Evansville dating back to 1969.
  • Both Valpo and Evansville shot at the exact same 21-of-49 (42.9%) clip from the field Saturday, but the Crusaders were just 2-of-10 from the 3-point line and 9-of-17 from the foul line, compared to 7-of-20 and 15-of-21 marks, respectively, by the Purple Aces.
  • Golder returned to action after exiting last Saturday’s game with an ankle injury and missing last Tuesday’s game. The junior played 22 minutes off the bench, tying for team-high honors with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
  • Freeman matched Golder with 12 points and also paced Valpo with six rebounds.
  • Four players scored in double figures for Valpo, as both Sackey and junior Derrik Smits (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) tallied 10 points on Saturday.

Next Up

Valpo (12-11, 5-5 MVC) looks to snap its losing streak Tuesday night when it travels to Illinois State. The 7 p.m. tipoff against the Redbirds will be broadcast live on ESPN+.