West Side Night And Jim Crews Day Announced For January 2017

TWO GREAT PROMOTIONS ON TAP 

Two great events have been announced for January of 2017 as West Side Night and Jim Crews Day will be held at the Ford Center in conjunction with University of Evansville men’s basketball games against UNI and Southern Illinois

One of the most popular promotions from last season makes its return to the Ford Center on New Year’s Day as West Side Night will be held on January 1 when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team takes on UNI.

The game will also promote awareness of Logan’s Promise with the team sporting their orange jerseys in the contest.  Two great giveaways will be held that day as 1,000 t-shirts will be given out as well as 500 Logan’s Promise mini basketballs.

West Side fans can pick up vouchers to purchase $5 tickets to the game at several locations throughout the west side of Evansville.  These are the only places to pick up these vouchers.  The sponsor locations include: First Bank, Leroy’s Tavern, Tracy Zeller Jewelry, Banterra Bank, Marx BBQ, St. Phillips Inn, Hacienda, DiLegge’s, Johnson, Carroll, Norton, Kent & Goedde, Pet Food Center, Azzip Pizza and Donut Bank.

In celebrating the west side theme, the Mater Dei and Reitz mascots as well as cheerleaders will be on hand.  The Mater Dei band will also be playing at the game.

An all-time greats in University of Evansville men’s basketball program history will be honored for his contributions as Jim Crews Day will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2017 when the Purple Aces take on Southern Illinois at the Ford Center.

Crews coached at UE from 1985 through 2002, accumulating 294 victories.  He led the Purple Aces to four NCAA Tournament appearances and two berths in the NIT.  The 1999 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year was also named the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year on three occasions.

“Coach Crews has been a mentor to me as a player and a coach and it means a lot to me personally to be able to honor him,” head coach Marty Simmons said.  “He set the blueprint for success at UE and we work each day to build upon the foundation that he built.”

Another former player under Crews, Curt Begle, echoed those sentiments.

“One thing that Coach Crews instilled in us as players was that the team and program were bigger than any one person.  He had so many great influences on so many people.  Whenever I was challenged in life, I was always able to reflect on the lessons that I learned under Coach Crews.”

He led the Aces to nine-consecutive non-losing seasons from 1985 through 1995.  Over that span, his teams won 20 or more games five times.

Coach Crews will be on hand at the game, which will feature special recognition, which will be announced at a later date.

Former players from the Crews era are welcomed back to the game and will be given complimentary tickets to the contest.  The game will also be alumni day.  Alums from the University of Evansville will be able to purchase tickets through the alumni association by clicking here: www.uealumnionline.com/mbbalumniday2017.