Game Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s basketball team will play host to TCU as part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge on Saturday evening at the Ford Center.
 
Evansville and TCU will tip at 7:05 p.m. following the Aces Winter Classic, which is being hosted by the UE women’s basketball team.  The Aces improved to 3-2 with a 62-55 victory over Alabama State on Tuesday.  Kenneth Harris was the leader for UE, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds, both game highs.
 
Harris has continued to excel in all facets of his game, notching 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals against Alabama State.  For the season, the senior is averaging 14.6 points per game, second behind only Colt Ryan.  Both are the only UE players to reach double figures in each game.  Harris recorded 11 double-digit outings a year ago and is a perfect 5-5 this year.
 
In the November 23 game at UIC, Colt Ryan became the 44th player in program history to score 1,000 points.  Ryan leads the Aces with 17.4 PPG and is in the top five in the MVC in scoring.  The Batesville, Ind. native extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 13 games with a 14-point performance against Alabama State.
 
Ned Cox continued his recent surge with ten points against Alabama State.  After scoring a total of seven points in the opening two contests, the junior has averaged 16.7 PPG over the last three games.  That includes a career-high of 24 points at UIC where he connected on 9-of-13 shots while going 5-6 from the charity stripe.
 
TCU comes to Evansville with a 5-2 mark after taking down Lamar, 77-72, on Wednesday.  The Horned Frogs grabbed a 57-55 win over Virginia earlier in November in the opening game of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas.  TCU has four players averaging double figures, led by J.R. Cadot and Hank Thorns, who average 11.6 PPG.  Garlon Green averages 10.6 PPG while Amric Fields has averaged an even ten points.
 
After facing TCU, the Aces will take to the road on Tuesday, traveling to No. 5 North Carolina.  The Tar Heels face off against top-ranked Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.  Tuesday’s contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU.