Recap: Evansville vs. Indiana State

Evansville, IN (Sports Network) - Colt Ryan scored a game-high 31 points and handed out eight assists as the Evansville Purple Aces recorded an 84-68 win over the Indiana State Sycamores in Missouri Valley Conference play at the Ford Center.

Also scoring in double figures for the Purple Aces (18-13, 10-8 MVC) were Ryan Sawvell and Jordan Nelson with 12 and 11 points, respectively, as they won their fourth straight to close out the regular season.

The Sycamores (17-13, 9-9) were led by Jake Odum with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, followed by R.J. Mahurin with 16 points, nine boards and three blocks, while Dawon Cummings chipped in 13 points off the bench as they lost for the fifth time in six games.

A close game throughout the first half, Evansville managed to pull out to a 37-36 advantage at the break thanks to an 8-of-9 showing at the free-throw line.

After converting 46.4 percent from the field over the first 20 minutes of action, the hosts dialed up the pressure with 62.1 percent accuracy after the break in order to pull away for the 16-point victory.

Indiana State turned the ball over 14 times and shot just 6-of-23 from 3-point range in the contest.

With the victory the Purple Aces nailed down the third seed in the MVC Tournament for the second year in a row, while ISU occupies the fifth position.