College Basketball

Evansville pulls out 74-73 win over Loyola of Chicago

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

CHICAGO (AP) D.J. Balentine's one-hander in the paint with 18 seconds remaining lifted Evansville to a 74-73 victory over Loyola of Chicago on Sunday, as the Purple Aces reached 20 regular-season victories for the first time since 1999.

After trailing by 19 in the second half, Montel James scored with 31 seconds left to cap a 14-2 run and give the Ramblers their first lead, 73-72, since they scored the game's first basket.

After Balentine's bucket, the Ramblers (12-14, 5-9 Missouri Valley) turned the ball over on a five-second call despite having two timeouts remaining, but immediately got the ball back with six seconds left via the possession arrow after a scramble on the Aces' inbounds. However, Milton Doyle's well-contested, straightaway 17-foot jumper missed at the buzzer.

Egidijus Mockevicius had 24 points and 16 rebounds to lead Evansville (20-7, 9-5). Balentine scored 16 points.

Loyola's bench scored 54 points, including Devon Turk with 22 and Earl Peterson 15.