Boxscore

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville opened its 92nd season of basketball Saturday night at Roberts Stadium with an 82-42 win over Oakland City University.  The Aces are now 24-10 in season openers in their 34 years at the Division I level.

The Aces were led by junior forward Kenneth Harris’ 21 points, while sophomore Ned Cox and freshman Jordan Jahr each contributed 11 points in the victory. Although senior Kavon Lacey did not score a basket, he tallied 11 assists.  Senior centers Clint Hopf and Pieter van Tongeren were four-for-four from the field and scored eight points each. Eleven players saw at least 12 minutes of action for Evansville.

Jeremiah Mitchell led the Mighty Oaks with 13 points and six rebounds.

Evansville dominated the smaller Division II Mighty Oaks from the outset, jumping out to leads of 8-0, 29-7 and 47-15 in the first half.  Harris scored 14 points in the first half, just one shy of Oakland City's first half total.  The Aces finished the game with 67 percent shooting from the field, hitting 34 of 51 shots.  Oakland City shot just 29 percent, connecting on 13 of its 45 shots.

"We were playing as a team in the first half--talking on defense and executing on offense," Harris said.  "We probably let up in the second half, lost some of our focus."

Added coach Marty Simmons, "We practiced better this week, and it showed in the way we started the game.  We're the kind of team that has to play with that kind of intensity all the time, not just some of the time."

Evansville is home again Wednesday, Nov. 17, for a 7:30 p.m. CST start against Texas-San Antonio, following the women's game against Murray State at 5:00.