Aces return to the Ford Center for two of the next three
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Returning to non-conference play for its next three games, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team opens the stretch on Wednesday versus Campbell inside the Ford Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.
Last Time Out
– A furious second-half rally saw the Purple Aces trim a 20-point halftime deficit to just six points before Northern Iowa fended off the challenge to take a 72-55 win on Saturday in Cedar Falls
– The Panthers took an 18-4 lead out of the gate and would lead for the duration of the contest
– Kenny Strawbridge Jr. led the way once again as he recorded 17 points
– Antoine Smith Jr. registered 10 points while playing over 32 minutes
Still in the Top Ten
– With his scoring average of 16.8 points per game, Kenny Strawbridge Jr. continueus to lead the Aces while ranking 9th in the Missouri Valley Conference
– Scoring 25 points against Fairfield, Strawrbridge reached the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season
– His top scoring output of the season saw him register 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting
– Over the last six games, he is averaging 17.8 points while shooting an 44.8% (39-for-87) from the field
– Since hitting four of his six 3-point attempts against Robert Morris, he has two of his last 11 from outside
Making the Start
– In his first start of the 2022-23 season, Antoine Smith Jr. scored 10 points and hauled in five rebounds at Northern Iowa
– For the first time this season, Smith has posted back-to-back double digit games as he totaled 12 against SIU and 10 at UNI
– Smith played a season-high 32:29 against the Panthers and hauled in five rebounds, his highest total since the opener at Miami
– He was a perfect 5-of-5 in the Valley opener against the Salukis on the way to his top scoring game of the season
Leading on the Boards
– Marvin Coleman II added seven more rebounds to his season tally at UNI and paces Evansville with an average of 6.4 per game
– His average is tied for 10th in the MVC and he has recorded 7 or more caroms in six of the ten games
– In the finale of the Hostilo Hoops Community Classic in Savannah, Marvin Coleman II recorded 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals
– He led the Aces in all three categories in the contest and is tied for 18th in the MVC with 2.5 assists/game
Scouting the Opponent
– Campbell enters Wednesday’s game with a 4-4 record after dropping their last contest at East Carolina by a 79-69 final on Friday
– On Nov. 27, the Camels picked up an 87-85 home overtime win over Stetson
– Ricky Clemons paces Campbell with 13.3 points per game while shooting 57.1% from outside
– Clemons also leads the team with 31 assists, 14 steals and 34.2 minutes per game
– Joshua Lusane (11.0 PPG), Jesus Carralero (10.6 PPG) and Anthony Dell’Orso (10.3 PPG) also average double figures
– Jay Pal is their leading rebounder with 7.1 per game
