Missouri State Bears at Evansville Purple Aces
· NCAA Men's Basketball
Benson scores 22 as Missouri State downs Evansville 74-64
Benson also had 13 rebounds and three blocks for the Bears (10-7, 2-4 Missouri Valley Conference). Alston Mason scored 18 points while going 7 of 17 from the floor, including 2 for 9 from 3-point range, and 2 for 3 from the line, and added five assists. Donovan Clay and Raphe Ayres both added 14.
The Purple Aces (10-7, 1-5) were led in scoring by Joshua Hughes, who finished with 22 points. Antonio Thomas added 15 points for Evansville. In addition, Kenny Strawbridge had nine points and 10 rebounds.
Missouri State took the lead with 28 seconds left in the first half and did not relinquish it. Benson led their team in scoring with 11 points in the first half to help put them ahead 36-35 at the break. Missouri State used an 11-3 run in the second half to build a nine-point lead at 47-38 with 15:28 left in the half before finishing off the win.
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Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 74 - 64 |
| 2nd 0:00 | End of 2nd half | 74 - 64 |
| 2nd 0:15 | Evansville Offensive Rebound. | 74 - 64 |
| 2nd 0:15 | Yacine Toumi Turnover. | 74 - 64 |
| 2nd 0:15 | Kenny Strawbridge Jr. missed Free Throw. | 74 - 64 |
Statistics
 MOST |
 EVAN |
|
|---|---|---|
| 26-56 | FG | 21-62 |
| 46 | Field Goal % | 34 |
| 7-22 | 3PT | 12-27 |
| 32 | Three Point % | 44 |
| 15-23 | FT | 10-15 |
| 65 | Free Throw % | 67 |
| 42 | Rebounds | 36 |
| 8 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 34 | Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| 14 | Assists | 13 |
| 3 | Steals | 0 |
| 6 | Blocks | 4 |
| 7 | Turnovers | 9 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 7 | Total Turnovers | 9 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 16 | Points Off Turnovers | 7 |
| 14 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
| 36 | Points in Paint | 14 |
| 18 | Fouls | 19 |
| 16 | Largest Lead | 6 |
Game Information
Location: Evansville, IN
Attendance: 3,978 | Capacity:
2025-26 Conference USA Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico State | 1-0 | - | 7-3 |
| Middle Tennessee | 1-0 | - | 7-4 |
| Liberty | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-3 |
| Florida International | 0-0 | 0.5 | 7-4 |
| Louisiana Tech | 0-0 | 0.5 | 7-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 0-0 | 0.5 | 7-4 |
| Missouri State | 0-0 | 0.5 | 5-5 |
| Jacksonville State | 0-0 | 0.5 | 5-6 |
| Delaware | 0-0 | 0.5 | 4-7 |
| UTEP | 0-0 | 0.5 | 3-7 |
| Kennesaw State | 0-1 | 1 | 8-4 |
| Sam Houston | 0-1 | 1 | 7-4 |
2025-26 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 2-0 | - | 12-1 |
| Illinois State | 2-0 | - | 10-3 |
| Murray State | 2-0 | - | 10-3 |
| Bradley | 2-0 | - | 9-4 |
| Northern Iowa | 1-0 | 0.5 | 9-2 |
| Drake | 1-1 | 1 | 7-6 |
| Valparaiso | 0-1 | 1.5 | 6-6 |
| Indiana State | 0-2 | 2 | 7-6 |
| Southern Illinois | 0-2 | 2 | 6-7 |
| UIC | 0-2 | 2 | 4-8 |
| Evansville | 0-2 | 2 | 4-9 |