Photo Gallery

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville Athletics Department ushered in the 2015-16 basketball season with Hoopfest, sponsored by Heritage Federal Credit Union.
 
The Thursday night event at the Ford Center served as the official beginning to the UE men's and women's basketball seasons.
 
The evening began with freshman forward Jordan Campbell of the women's basketball team and junior guard Blake Simmons of the men's team combining to win the 3-point challenge.
 
Next, the women's team competed in an intra-squad scrimmage. In a high-scoring contest, the Purple team won 21-14. Freshman forward Kerri Gasper led the Purple squad with eight points as junior guard Sara Dickey tallied seven points for the Orange team.
 
Then, three members of the men's team (junior guard Jaylon Brown, redshirt sophomore guard Ryan Taylor, and redshirt junior forward Willie Wiley) took part in a dunk contest. After a pair of dunks each, Brown's total of 98 points topped his teammates to take the dunk championship crown.
 
The men's team also played an intra-squad scrimmage. Just like the women's game, the Orange squad won in a nail-biter 19-18. Senior guard D.J. Balentine led all scorers with eight points. Brown recorded a team-high six points in the victory.
 
The final contest of the night was a skills contest featuring a men's basketball player, a women's basketball player and a fan selected from a social media contest. The team of redshirt junior guard Mislav Brzoja, junior guard Sara Dickey and fan David Stewart hit a layup, free throw, three pointer and half-court shot in just 64 seconds to win the event.
 
Fans were treated to autographs from both teams after the conclusion of Hoopfest 2015.
 
The women's team starts their exhibition season at home against Eureka College on Nov. 2. The men's team hosts Wabash in a home exhibition on Nov. 7.
 
Admission is free and everyone is invited to see the Purple Aces in action for the first time this fall.