Saturday, February 26 and Saturday, March 5 are fast approaching.

Those are two very important dates in the history of University of Evansville basketball, signifying the final men’s and women’s games at 55-year-old Roberts Stadium.  Next season, both teams will play at the new downtown arena.

All former players, coaches and support staff have been invited back for both farewell games, and may bring as many as three guests free of charge to the men’s game on Feb. 26 at 2:05 CST against Illinois State.  Fans can purchase tickets for the Feb. 26 game through the Roberts Stadium box office, the UE athletics ticket office at (812) 488-ACES or Ticketmaster.com.  UE announced today that admission will be free to the March 5 women’s game against Wichita State at 2:00 CST.  

University of Evansville Director of Athletics John Stanley today outlined the University’s plans to celebrate the Roberts Stadium farewell, noting that “This is a celebration for all who have been part of University of Evansville basketball, whether they have been fans cheering in the stands, or the players, coaches and support staff who have given us a lot to cheer about over the last 55 years.”

More than 40 former players have indicated they will attend one or both games.  They include the top four living men’s scorers in school history–Larry Humes, Marcus Wilson, Andy Elkins and Scott Haffner.  Among the notable women’s players who have announced they will be at the March 5 game are Angie McGrew Oliver, Kay Conder, Barb Orpurt Dayton, Terri Droege Souders and Tricia Deffendoll.  

At the Feb. 26 game...
•Haffner, whose 65-point game in 1989 set the Roberts Stadium scoring record, and Humes, who helped lead the Aces to a pair of national championships in the ‘60s, will be introduced and speak briefly to the fans during timeouts.
•Also during the game, the basketball support groups will be recognized.  They include current and former team managers, athletic trainers, cheerleaders, dance team members, pep band members and Ace Purples.
•Immediately at the end of the game, all former players will be asked to come onto Arad McCutchan Court to join Head Coach Marty Simmons and his team for the annual Senior Day ceremony.  Simmons will speak and then introduce seniors Clint Hopf, Kavon Lacey and Pieter van Tongeren.
•The farewell celebration will then begin, emceed by UE Director of Athletic Development and Radio Play by Play Announcer Lance Wilkerson.  Tributes will be made to the McCutchan era at Roberts Stadium (1956 to 1977), the 1977-78 team that perished in a plane crash on Dec. 13, 1977, the Dick Walters era (1978-1985), the Jim Crews era (1985-2002), and the most recent era spanning head coaches Steve Merfeld and Marty Simmons (2003-present).  Speakers will include representatives from each era, including Walters and Crews.  Merfeld is unable to attend because he is now an assistant coach at Creighton University, which also plays its final regular season game that day.

Stanley said the event will culminate with a symbolic move from Roberts Stadium to the downtown arena, but would not elaborate, saying “We want to have a couple surprises that day.”

The afternoon will end with all fans being invited to join the former players and coaches on Arad McCutchan Court.

Similar events are scheduled for the women’s game on March 5.  Former coaches Lois Patton, Bill Barnett and Linda Wambach Crick are expected to attend, along with a number of former players and support staff members. The March 5 post-game celebration will begin with head coach Misty Murphy and her players honoring their only senior, Stephanie Bamberger.