Taylor's big day leads Aces past UNCC

Ryan Taylor scored 29 points and Evansville improved to 2-0 with a 68-55 victory over NC Central in a Monday matinee.

Taylor hit half of his 16 field goal attempts, part of a 51% shooting performance by the hosts. The junior knocked down consecutive three-pointers to give Evansville its largest first half lead at 35-18 with just under five minutes until halftime.

Evansville led 48-30 at the 15:28 mark of the second half on a pair of Taylor free throws.

It was Taylor's highest-scoring output since a 38-point effort against Norfolk State in December, 2016. 

NC Central, coming off a MEAC championship and appearance in last year's First Four, fell to 0-2 despite shooting 47% from the field. The Eagles turned the ball over 26 times.

Kent State transfer Raasean Davis led the visitors from Durham, North Carolina with 12 points. Sophomore Dru Smith handed out a career-high 11 assists for Evansville.