D.J. Balentine scored 16 points off the bench, and Evansville closed the game on a 13-2 run to seal its first victory of the season, 66-56 on Friday at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Balentine, a freshman, was 6 of 11 from the field. Jordan Jahr added 12 points, and Ryan Sawvell and Lewis Jones had 10 apiece for the Purple Aces (1-2).
Justin Sears had 15 points and Austin Morgan chipped in 13 for the Bulldogs (0-3), who erased a 10-point first-half deficit and led 54-53 with 7:25 to play. But two Balentine baskets, sandwiched around two Jones free throws, put the Purple Aces ahead to stay. Later, a Ned Cox 3-pointer made it 62-56 with 3:01 left, and Cox's two free throws in the final minute sealed the win.
Evansville won despite being outrebounded 35-22. Yale committed 19 turnovers to Evansville's six.
