FAYETTE, IOWA – Junior guard Trevon Evans scored 28 points to lead three players in double digits as the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (10-4, 6-3 NSIC) won its second straight with a 77-72 NSIC victory over Upper Iowa (9-9, 2-7 NSIC) on Friday at Dorman Gymnasium. The victory enabled the Cougars to sweep UIU this season after a 90-78 victory at the Stewart Center on Dec. 2 and moved into a second place tie with SMSU in the NSIC South at 6-3.

USF, keyed by a hot-shooting first half from the field (53.4 percent), led from start to finish with UIU drawing within one point once (7-6, 15:43, 1st half). However, the Cougars, which defeated the Peacocks for the sixth time in 15 meetings, extended the lead to 27-12 (7:46, 1st half) before a late three from Evans provided USF with a 39-31 halftime advantage. In the second half, the Peacocks shot 59 percent from the floor (17-of-29), and had a 41-38 points advantage but drew no closer than five points.

"We were able to build a lead and held them off," said USF Men's Head Basketball Coach Chris Johnson, who earned his 166th career win. "I really was pleased with our effort tonight. We came out with energy and Trevon (Evans), who didn't practice all week, had an outstanding start and a really solid game. But I also want to credit Zach Wessels, who again proved he is one of the best defensive players in the league. He isn't flashy but he really gets after it every night. Whatever you need him to do, he does it," said Johnson. "Overall, we played well, made some shots and outrebounded them which was really important. Our only real problem was turnovers but give them some credit, they defended really well," he said.

For the seventh time this season, Evans recorded 20 points or more. The junior guard from Wichita, Kan., hit 10-of-19 shots from floor, including 3-of-7 from three point range while knocking down 5-of-6 free throws. Evans, who did not play in the overtime win last Sunday over Augustana, also had five rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes of action. He now has 12 double digit scoring games this season.

Junior forward Drew Guebert had 17 points, including a pair of three-pointers, while also grabbing seven rebounds. Guebert moved past 1,100 career points and has 1,112 in his career as he had his 53rd double digit scoring game of his career.

 For the second straight game, junior guard Justin Taylor had double digits with 11 points while adding four rebounds and two blocked shots.

Overall, USF hit 28-of-57 shots from the floor for 49.1 percent, including 8-of-18 from three point range for 44.4 percent. USF, which is now 9-0 when shooting 45 percent or better from the field, was 13-of-19 from the foul line while registering a commanding, 38-26 advantage on the boards. It is the 11th time in 14 games USF has outrebounded an opponent. When the Cougars hold the rebound edge, they are 10-1 this season.

Game Breakdown
After missing a game, Evans started out fast, scoring seven straight points as USF took a 7-3 lead at the 16:36 mark of the first half. Guebert broke a two-minute scoring drought with a three which was followed by a steal by Austin Slater and a dunk from Evans to push the lead to 12-6 (14:06, 1st half).

Shortly thereafter, USF took off on a 15-6 run, keyed by threes from Guebert, Taylor and Drew Maschoff, for a 27-12 lead with 7:46 to play. UIU answered with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to 27-18 but were assessed a technical foul after a dunk. USF took advantage as Guebert knocked in two free throws and then Evans reached double digits with a jumper for a 31-18 lead at the 6:05 mark.

Once again, UIU rallied with six straight points to trim the deficit to 31-24 before Evans hit his second three to push lead back to 10 (34-24, 3:00). With a Kam Rowan three, UIU cut the lead to 34-29 before a basket from Guebert and a three by Evans with three seconds left enabled the Cougars to build a 39-31 halftime lead.
 
USF had a sizzling half of shooting, hitting 15-of-28 shots for 53.6 percent, including 7-of-11 from three point range. USF, which had a 14-to-10 rebound edge, was led in scoring by Evans with 17 while Guebert added 12. Evans was 7-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from three point range.

A basket by Evans, who led USF with 11 second half points, kept USF's lead at eight (43-35, 17:12, 2nd half). Then, Wessels got involved offensively with back-to-back baskets for a 47-37 lead at the 15:14 mark.  After Aaron Rothermund knocked in a three and Taylor hit a jumper, USF had regained a 12-point advantage at 58-46 at the 10:59 mark.

UIU had the answer with a 12-5 run to draw within, 63-58, with six minutes to go.   A basket from Evans ended the run as Cougars led, 65-58, at the five minute mark. After a missed free throw by USF, Dennis Austin hit a jumper to again keep the Peacocks close at 65-60 and four minutes left.  

Guebert stepped up with a jumper (3:32) followed by Wessels's offensive board and put back for a 69-60 lead. Despite a pair of late threes from UIU, the Cougars made 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to hold off the Peacocks.

On Saturday, the Cougars continue their road trip with an NSIC tussle against Winona State with tipoff set for 6 p.m.