EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jamezell Davis, Jr. scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the first half as Albion College got the University of Evansville's attention by trailing by just a point at halftime.
Evansville shot 52 percent from the field, including 50 percent from 3-point range, in the second half to pull away for a 65-49 victory over the Britons.
Neither team shot well in the first half – Albion was at 27 percent and Evansville at nearly 26 percent – and it took five minutes before Caden Ebeling to score the first basket of the game. ArShawn Parker knocked down a 3-point basket to boost the Albion lead to 5-0 seven minutes into the game.
Albion trailed by as many as eight in the first half, but it didn't let Evansville land the knockout punch. Davis knocked down a pair of 3-point baskets to pull Albion within a point at halftime.
Jaylin Fordham dialed up from 3-point range as Albion trailed 28-26 2 ½ minutes into the second half.
Marty Hill hit a 3-point shot and K.J. Riley tacked on a pair of layups as Evansville went on an 11-3 run to build a double digit margin, 39-29, with 12:41 to play.
Parker sank a pair of free throws as Albion pulled within seven, 41-34, midway through the second half, but that was as close as it would get.
Hill and Noah Frederking hit 3-point shots on consecutive possessions and Hill added two free throws as Evansville ripped off eight quick points in sending the Britons to a 15-point deficit.
MJ Barnes contributed eight points and Caden Ebeling eight rebounds for Albion.
Dainius Chatkevicius, Frederking, Hill and Riley scored 11 points apiece for Evansville.
Albion, 4-2 against non-league rivals so far this season, will play its next two games at home. The action begins with a 3 p.m. tip against the University of Chicago next Saturday.
Follow Albion men's basketball on social media
Instagram: @albion.mbb
Twitter: @AlbionMBB