Balentine reaches 2,000, Evansville beats Norfolk St. 84-70

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) D.J. Balentine passed the 2,000-point career mark on Thursday night while scoring a game-high 26 and Evansville beat Norfolk State 84-70.

Evansville (9-2) took the lead for good early in the second after a first half where Norfolk State (4-7) had the largest lead at 37-31 with 1:28 left. The Purple Aces closed the half with five straight points from there and opened the second with the next seven to lead 43-37.

Balentine's 2,000th point came on the second of two free throws with 9:22 left, near the start of a 15-6 run that he also capped with free throws at 70-56.

Balentine finished the game with 2,006 career points, joining Colt Ryan, Larry Humes and Marcus Wilson as the fourth member of Evansville's 2,000-point club.

Jaylon Brown added 17 points and Egidijus Mockeviciu 14, plus 10 boards, for the Aces.

Jeff Short led Norfolk State with 22 points.