March 2, 2006
Box Score
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Bradley Strickland and Shy Ely each scored 15 points to lead Evansville to a 52-45 win Thursday over Illinois State in a play-in game in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Jason Holsinger added 12 points for the Purple Aces (10-18), who have won three in a row for the first time this season.
Roberto Fortes was the lone Illinois State player in double figures with 14. The Redbirds (9-19) lost nine of their last 10 games and did not win a road game all season.
Evansville led 18-17 at halftime. The game was tied at 28-28 with 13:33 to play, then later went on a 15-5 run to led 43-33 with 3:53 remaining.
The Purple Aces made 15-of-22 free throw attempts, while Illinois State went only 5-of-8 from the line.
Evansville, the No. 7 seed, will play No. 2 Southern Illinois University in the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Friday.
