Game is first of five in a row at home

On Wednesday, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team returns home for the first of a 5-game home stand as the Purple Aces welcome Wabash College to the Ford Center for a 7 p.m. tilt.

Jaylon Brown and Ryan Taylor averaged double figures as the Purple Aces played in the Challenge in Music City in Nashville over the weekend.  Against some of the top mid-major competition in the country, the Aces played extremely well, coming within seconds of winning the opening two contests in the event.

Brown had the best game in almost three years for the Purple Aces against Toledo.  He scored 39 points on a 14-of-28 shooting to tally 39 points, the highest UE point total since D.J. Balentine had 43 points at UNI in 2014.  His 14 makes was also the most since Colt Ryan hit 17 shots on his way to 43 points at Creighton in 2012.  In three games at the Challenge in Music City, Brown averaged 18.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on his way to a berth on the All-Tournament Team.

Taylor is the No. 2 scorer for the Purple Aces, sitting at 14.5 points per game.  Taylor has connected on a team-best 11 3-pointers on the season and checks in shooting 40.7% from outside.  In the game against Middle Tennessee State, Taylor knocked down his first seven attempts on his way to a career-best 22 points.

In the game against Middle Tennessee State in Nashville, Sergej Vucetic made the first start of his career and finished with six rebounds and four points.  He had the best game of his career in the double overtime match-up against Toledo, finishing with 13 points and 8 rebounds in 32 minutes of work, all career highs.  The 7-1 center has been steady at the free throw line, hitting 13 of his 17 attempts, 76.5%.

For the first time since 1976, the University of Evansville and Wabash College will meet in a regular season game.  The Little Giants come to Evansville with a 2-2 record, earning wins over Rust College and Birmingham-Southern.  Pacing the squad is Evan Frank, who has notched 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest.  Defensively, Logan White has been a beast on the boards, hauling in an average of 10.3 caroms per game.