Missouri State (16-7, 6-5 MVC) picked up its fourth road win of the season with a 66-54 victory over Evansville. Jarmar Gulley and Ron Mvouika both posted double-doubles for the Bears.
It was Gulley’s ninth straight double-figure scoring game and fourth double-double of the league season as he finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Mvouika posted 14 points and 10 rebounds to pace the win.
Evansville (10-14, 3-8) was led by Egidiju Mockevicius who scored 14 with 10 rebounds, while the league’s top scorer, D.J. Balentine, was held to just 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Aces also went 0-for-13 from 3-point range and never led.
After the home club ended the first half on a 12-1 run to make it a four-point game at the break, Missouri State came out on fire to start the second half. The Bears scored 9 unanswered points, including the first four by Christian Kirk, over the first three-and-a-half minutes of the second half to lead 40-27.
The Bears finished 21-of-52 (.404) from the field, 5-of-16 (.313) from 3-point range and 19-of-30 (.633) at the line while out-rebounding Evansville, 44-34. MSU committed 14 turnovers but snagged nine steals, including four by Gulley.
The Bears will wrap up their two-game MVC road swing Saturday at Southern Illinois (9-15, 5-6 MVC) with a 6 p.m., tipoff from SIU Arena.
