Evansville Aces vs Valparaiso Beacons NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/25/25
The Aces and Beacons are set to face off at 4:00 ET on ESPN+. The Beacons will host the game at Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, IN. The over/under for this Missouri Valley conference contest is set at 140.5 points, with Valparaiso being favored by -6.5 at home against Evansville.
EVANSVILLE ACES VS VALPARAISO BEACONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Valparaiso Beacons -6.5
This game will be played at Athletics-Recreation Center at 4:00 ET on Saturday, January 25th.
WHY BET THE VALPARAISO BEACONS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Beacons.
- Not only will Valparaiso pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -6.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 140.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.
Will the Aces Pull Through as the Away Underdog?
Evansville Aces Recent Game/Games
The Aces dropped to 5-14 on the season after a 78-67 home loss to UIC on Wednesday. Evansville entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 145, surpassing the O/U line of 142.5.
Evansville fell behind early, trailing 47-32 at halftime. They tightened up in the 2nd half, outscoring UIC 35-31, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Evansville’s offense put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 45.9% from the field. They struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 20 attempts for 20%, while connecting on 58.5% of their two-point shots. Their effective field goal percentage was 49.2%, and they made only 7 of 13 free throws, shooting 53.8% from the line.
Jordan Mason led the Aces with 19 points and 5 assists, shooting 54.5% overall. Tayshawn Comer added 18 points and 8 assists, while Ahmad Henderson II contributed 16 points in 22 minutes, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range. Modestas Kancleris grabbed 9 rebounds and shot 71.4% from the field.
Evansville’s defense gave up 78 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 45% from the field on 28 of 61 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 58% shooting, as the other team made 24 of 41 two-point shots.
From three-point range, Evansville held their opponents to 20% shooting, with just 4 made threes on 20 attempts. The Aces also sent the other team to the free-throw line 13 times, where they hit 7 for 53%. Evansville gave up 8 offensive rebounds.
Will Valparaiso Win at Home?
Valparaiso Beacons Recent Game/Games
Valparaiso fell to 8-10 on the season after an 81-71 road loss to Drake on Wednesday. The Beacons entered the game as +13.5 point underdogs but managed to keep the final score closer than expected.
After trailing 43-29 at halftime, Valparaiso outscored Drake 42-38 in the second half. The game’s total points of 152 exceeded the O/U line of 128.5.
Valparaiso’s offense put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 47.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.1%. They hit 51.4% of their two-point attempts and went 4-for-11 from beyond the arc, shooting 36.4% from three-point range. At the free-throw line, the Beacons were efficient, knocking down 21 of 25 attempts for 84%.
Bennett Stirtz led the way with 24 points and 9 assists, while Mitch Mascari added 21 points, hitting 5 of 9 from three. Valparaiso finished with just 5 assists as a team and grabbed 6 offensive rebounds in the game.
Valparaiso’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 81 points on 55% shooting from the field. They allowed their opponent to hit 54% of their two-point attempts, going 17/31 from inside the arc.
From three-point range, Valparaiso’s defense allowed 9/16 shooting, or 56%. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 24 times, where they made 20 free throws, shooting 83%. Valparaiso gave up 6 offensive rebounds.