EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a 24-12 season that was capped off by winning the CollegeInsider.com Tournament Championship, University of Evansville head men's basketball coach Marty Simmons has announced the non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2015-16 season. 
 
Included in the lineup are up to seven teams who made the postseason a year ago, five of which from the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
 
"This non-conference schedule provides many opportunities for our program.  The potential to play up to five NCAA teams in our non-conference slate alone shows the strength of the teams we will be playing," Simmons said.  "These games will help us to rise up to the challenge when conference play begins."
 
A November 7 meeting with Wabash at the Ford Center marks the lone exhibition contest for the Purple Aces.  The Aces faced off against Wabash in 2014, winning by a 95-50 final.  The regular season home opener will comes against OVC foe Southeast Missouri State on Sunday, November 15.  This will be the first meeting between the Aces and Redhawks since 2007 when SEMO took an 87-77 win in Cape Girardeau.
 
Next up, Evansville will welcome Marian to the Ford Center on 11/17 in a non-bracketed Wooden Legacy game. This also marks the return of former UE assistant coach Carson Harris, who left UE to become the head coach of the Indianapolis-based school in April. 
 
A 3-game home stretch to begin the regular season wraps up on the 21^st when the Aces take on 2015 OVC Tournament Champion and NCAA participant Belmont at the Ford Center.  The Aces and Bruins met last year in Nashville with UE taking a 65-62 win, dealing the Bruins just their third home loss in a span of 62 games.
 
Evansville heads out to Anaheim, Calif. to play in the Wooden Legacy, which begins on Thanksgiving, Thursday November 26.  The first two games of the event for UE will be played on the campus of Cal State Fullerton while the final game will take place at the Honda Center.  Big East member Providence marks the first opponent for UE on the 26^th.  The Friars have had three postseason runs over the last three seasons, including berths in the NCAA's in 2014 and 2015.  The two will tangle in an 8 p.m. CT game live on ESPNU.  Other potential opponents in the tournament include: Arizona, Michigan State, Boise State, Boston College, Santa Clara and UC Irvine. 
 
The Aces open the month of December back home against a Division I foe before going on the road for their next two contests.  Evansville heads to 2014-15 OVC undefeated regular season champion Murray State on December 5 before traveling to SEC powerhouse, the University of Arkansas three days later.  Murray State had a stellar campaign a season ago, going 29-6 on its way to the third round of the NIT.  Arkansas has also been on a roll.  The Razorbacks were 27-9 last season and played in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Home contests against Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 12) and MEAC regular season runner-up Norfolk State (Dec. 17) are up next.  Norfolk State won 20 games last season and played in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, eventually won by UE.  The final non-conference road trip will be to Fresno State as the Missouri Valley Conference and Mountain West have entered into a 4-year agreement for their schools to play.  In the final regular season non-conference game, UE takes on Alabama A&M on 12/22.  The MVC portion of the schedule will be announced by the conference in the coming week.s
 
Men's Basketball season tickets will go on sale to new season ticket holders on Monday, August 31st. Please call 812-488-4073 or visit us on campus at the Carson Center Ticket Office to purchase your tickets and pick out your seats.
 
Ticket requests for the Murray State game on December 5^th will be taken now until November 5th. Tickets will be $11 each and located in the upper level of the arena. Fans may contact the UE ticket office to put in their request.
 
All-Session ticket requests for the Wooden Legacy will be taken until September 21st through the University of Evansville Athletic Ticket Office. These packages are $139 and grant you admission to every game of the Wooden Legacy, which will take place in Anaheim, Calif. from Nov. 26-29. Seats for the first two sessions at CSU Fullerton will be general admission and the final session at the Honda Center will have reserved seating in the Aces block.  Tickets will go on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster and the Honda Center box office beginning Friday, October 2nd.  At that time, tickets will be available at a number of different price points.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
11/7 – vs. Wabash (exhibition)
11/15 – vs. SEMO
11/17 – vs. Marian (Ind.)
11/21 – vs. Belmont (UE Fan Fest at Ford Center)
11/26 – Providence (Wooden Legacy)
11/27 – TBA (Wooden Legacy)
11/29 – TBA (Wooden Legacy)
12/1 – TBA (home Division I game)
12/5 – at Murray State
12/8 – at Arkansas
12/12 – vs. Mississippi Valley State
12/17 – vs. Norfolk State
12/20 – at Fresno State
12/22 – vs. Alabama A&M
 

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