The 5th-Annual Fan Fest event highlights what will be a great day of action as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will host Belmont inside the Ford Center at 12:30 p.m.
Fan Fest begins at 10:30 a.m. on Freedom Plaza, which is located just outside the Ford Center. It will take place rain or shine and is inside a heated tent. Fans can attend for free and take part in activities for all ages that include: live music, inflatables and corn hole. Food will also be for sale and a beer garden will be set up inside.
A putback in the first half of the win over Marian gave Egidijus Mockevicius his 13th point of the day, but more importantly, marked the 1,000th point of his career. He is the 47th in program history to reach the plateau and joins teammate D.J. Balentine in the club. Mockevicius recorded his 29th double-double in his last 46 games as he went off for 20 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Marian.
Mislav Brzoja has done an excellent job of taking care of the ball so far; last year he averaged 2.2 turnovers per game, in his first two contests this year, Brzoja has turned it over just once in 47 minutes of action. He has averaged 8 rebounds in the first two games and stands in 6th place in the MVC.
While D.J. Balentine is shooting just 33.3% from the field (9/27), he is getting the job done overall, posting 17.5 points in the first two games. He has done an excellent job of getting to the free throw line, taking 20 shots and making 17 of them. With 13 total assists, Balentine is second in the MVC, but leads the way for the Purple Aces; he has led UE in assists in both games so far and the Aces are 15-3 in the last 18 games where Balentine has led them in assists.
Evansville and Belmont have met just two times in their history with each coming in the last six years. In the 2009 CBI, Belmont defeated the Aces by a 92-76 score at Roberts Stadium while last season, the Aces handed the Bruins a 66-62 defeat in Nashville.
Belmont comes to Evansville with a 2-1 record after earning victories over Marquette and Western Kentucky. Their lone defeat was an 83-74 loss at Arizona State on Monday. In their last game, the Bruins topped the HIlltoppers by a 90-85 final on Wednesday evening at Curb Event Center. Three Belmont players have registered double figures, led by Evan Bradds, who stands at 17 points per game, he is also their top rebounder, checking in at 7.7/contest. Craig Bradshaw is next with 14.3 PPG while Nick Smith checks in at 11.3; Bradshaw is the top 3-point shooter on the team, shooting 42.1% from outside, inside the arc, he has hit just five of his 19 attempts.
