EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Head coach Marty Simmons and the University of Evansville men’s basketball will play the first of two exhibition games on Saturday afternoon, welcoming DePauw to the Ford Center at 4:05 p.m.
 
The Purple Aces have made the postseason two out of the last three years, something the program has not done since qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in 1992 and 93 and are looking for an experienced team to take the next step this year.
 
Evansville posted an impressive 4-2 mark against NCAA Tournament teams last season, including a 71-68 win over evantual national championship finalist Butler, a sweep in the regular season series over MVC Tournament champion Indiana State and a win over regular season champ Missouri State, one of just three league losses for the Bears.
 
Other accomplishments from last season included a CBI victory over Hofstra marking the first postseason win for UE since the 1989 NCAA Tournament and a 9-9 mark in the MVC, the best league record for UE since 2000-01.
 
Junior Colt Ryan established himself as one of the top players in the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 15.7 PPG last season, third best in the league. For his efforts, Ryan was named to the Preseason MVC All-Conference Team.  As a sophomore, Ryan led the MVC in free throw percentage, hitting 87.4% of his attempts while his conversion rate of 40.6% from three-point range was fifth.
 
The Aces return three starters and ten letterwinners returning for the 2011-12 campaign. That comprises an impressive 69.8% of UE’s scoring from last year. Three of the Purple Aces top four scorers will be back including Ryan, Denver Holmes and Ned Cox. Head coach Marty Simmons also welcomes back four seniors including Holmes, Kenneth Harris, Matt Peeler and Brandon Williams.
 
Following a pair of exhibition games, the Aces will officially open up the Ford Center with games against Butler and Indiana. The regular season begins on November 12 when defending national finalist Butler comes to town. Last year, UE took a 71-68 win over the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Four days later, the Hoosiers will make their first trip to Evansville since the 1995-96 season.
 
Tickets are still available for tomorrow’s doubleheader with the women’s team.  Fans with a ticket to the men’s game will have free admission to the women’s game against Oakland City at 1 p.m.