In a neck-and-neck second half game Thursday night, No. 7-seeded Valparaiso University slipped past University of Evansville 58-55, advancing to the quarterfinals against No. 2-seeded Loyola Friday night.
After Valparaiso took a small lead into halftime, momentum changed with 11:39 left in the game — Evansville took the lead from Valparaiso 40-39. The lead didn’t last more than 29 seconds as the Crusaders pulled through. The two teams see-sawed until the Crusaders took the lead for the remaining 5:56.
Despite several opportunities to tie, senior guard K.J. Riley cost the Purple Aces their chance at their first victory over an MVC school this season, missing a free throw that would’ve tied the game and send the game into overtime.