EVANSVILLE, Ind. – It is time for some basketball as the University of Evansville men's basketball team officially kicks off the 2019-20 regular season on Saturday against Ball State. Tip will be at 6 p.m. inside the Ford Center. Fans are encouraged to cheer on the contestants of the "Ace Ace Baby Race" at halftime, which will be presented by The Women's Hospital.
Setting the Scene
- For the fifth time since 2013, the Purple Aces open up the season at home; overall - Evansville has won seven out of eight Ford Center openers
- The Aces open up against a familiar opponent in Ball State; last season, the teams played a home-and-home series
- Evansville has enjoyed success at home against the Cardinals, going 23-5 in 25 home games
- That includes an 89-77 win last season that saw the Aces erupt for a 44-11 run that saw them erase a 16-point deficit before winning by 12
- Saturday's game ties the arena mark for the earliest regular-season game played; in 2013, UE also played a Nov. 9 game, taking on Martin Methodist
Coach McCarty's Thoughts
"It should be a lot of fun, just sitting there, it is almost like you are playing a waiting game. Every school is playing and we still have a few days left before we play. Getting out there in a real game and letting our guys get acquainted and get going is what we are looking for. Once it gets going, it is not going to stop. We're excited. Our guys are really anxious to get out there and play the right way."
Exhibition Recap
- In its lone exhibition game, the Purple Aces earned a hard-fought 71-68 overtime win over the University of Southern Indiana
- K.J. Riley and Artur Labinowicz led the Aces with 14 points apiece
- One of the best in the nation at getting to the line, Riley did so on ten occasions against the Screaming Eagles, converting nine of those attempts
- DeAndre Williams had an efficient 13-point, 7-rebound outing; he was 6-of-8 from the free throw line
- Sam Cunliffe finished the night with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists
- UE's defense made a huge difference, forcing 26 turnovers while holding the Screaming Eagles to just 2-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc
Ford Center Milestone
- The next home win for UE will be the 100th victory at the Ford Center; UE is 99-39 at the arena, which opened in 2011
Season Openers
- Through its first 100 season openers, the Purple Aces are 66-34
- Last season, the Aces opened up with their first-ever game against the University of Illinois, falling by a 99-60 final
Scouting the Opponent
- Ball State comes into Saturday's match with a 1-0 mark after defeating Defiance in Tuesday's opener by a final of 87-43
- Four Cardinals posted double figures, led by Kyle Mallers, who was 4-for-7 from outside on his way to 12 points
- K.J. Walton and Tahjai Teague posted 11 apiece while Jarron Coleman finished with 10
- As a team, BSU shot 51.6% from the floor while holding Defiance to just 28.8%; they also finished with a 47-31 rebounding edge
- Last season, the Cardinals finished with a 16-17 record and lost top scorer Tayler Persons, who finished with 16.7 PPG
Inside the Series
- Saturday's game will mark the 55th meeting between the schools, but is the third game since the start of last season
- UE leads the series by a 39-15 mark and is 23-2 at home
- In last year's home-and-home series, the home team was victorious in both contests
- BSU earned an 82-72 win in Muncie while the Aces defended the Ford Center and posted an 89-77 win on December 9
- GEAR: To buy the newest official Aces athletic gear, check out the new Aces Sideline Store operated by BSN Sports on the front page of GoPurpleAces.com.
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