UE hosts Chattanooga on Thursday evening

Aces and Mocs to meet up at 7 p.m. 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In a rematch of last season’s exciting 85-77 victory, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team welcomes Chattanooga to the Ford Center for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday evening.  ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.

Last Time Out

– Saturday’s contest against Western Kentucky was a game of runs as the Aces held a 33-32 halftime lead, but a 47-point second half saw the Hilltoppers take a 79-65 win

– Cam Haffner and Gabriel Pozzato led the team with 19 points apiece while Connor Turnbull posted 9 points and 6 blocks, tying his career-high

Looking Back

– When the Aces and Mocs met last season, it was an instant classic at McKenzie Arena

– Trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half, UE staged one of the largest rallies in MVC history before winning by a final of 85-77 in overtime

– Ben Humrichous paced the team with 28 points while Antonio Thomas had 11

– Tanner Cuff recorded his first double-double at UE as he tallied 10 points and 11 boards

Up to Second

– Tying his career mark with 6 blocks against WKU, Connor Turnbull has moved to 2nd in the MVC with his season average of 1.67 per game

– On the offensive side, Turnbull tied his career scoring mark with 9 versus the Hilltoppers and has recorded 7+ points in 3 of the last 4 games

– Turnbull had a solid performance in the win over Green Bay, grabbing a career-high 8 boards to go along with 9 points

– He had a solid game versus Brescia, posting 7 points, 4 boards and 3 blocks

– Through nine games, he has posted 5.4 PPG and 2.6 RPG while seeing just over 17 minutes of work per game

On a Roll

– Over the last four games, Cam Haffner has posted an average of 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game

– His season average of 15.6 PPG is currently 5th in the league while his average of 33.8 minutes per game is 6th

– Haffner has 7 double figure scoring games this season after posting just four last year

– In the win over Green Bay, he set career highs in points (27), field goals (10) and attempts (16); he also tied his top collegiate mark of 9 rebounds

Going the Distance

– Over the last two games, Gabriel Pozzato has played all 80 minutes

– He finished with 19 points, 7 boards, and 2 steals against WKU after recording a career-high 6 steals at Murray State, which is tied for the second-highest total in a game this season

– Averaging 1.89 steals on the season, Pozzato is tied for 5th in the MVC

– He continues to rank 4th in the Valley with 15.6 PPG and has recorded at least 8 points in every game this season

Scouting the Opponent

– Winners of five out of their last six games, Chattanooga enters Thursday’s game with a 5-4 record

– Prior to a Dec. 3 loss to Lipscomb, the Mocs won five in a row as they defeated Morehead State, SEMO, Johnson (TN), Tennessee State, and Bryant

– Bash Wieland paces Chattanooga with his average of 14.6 PPG

– He is followed by Trey Bonham’s 12.3 PPG while Honor Huff checks in with 10.4 PPG

– Huff holds the team lead with 32 assists while Sean Cusano is averaging a team-high 5.1 rebounds per contest

-www.GoPurpleAces.com-

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball opens its longest homestand of the 2024-25 season when hosts Shawnee State College Sunday in Liberty Arena. The tipoff is set for 1 p.m.

The USI Screaming Eagles, who have won four of their last six games, are looking to rebound after falling on the road at Southern Illinois University, 73-70, December 7. Sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi led USI scorers at SIU with 24 points, while junior guard Jayland Randall followed with 22 points.

Randall leads USI through the first eight games with 16.9 points per outing, while Olowoniyi is averaging 15.2 points and is grabbing a team-high 6.3 rebounds. Junior guards Damoni Harrison and Jared Washington follow the top two with 11.8 and 10.5 points per appearance.

The Bears of Shawnee State, who are a member of the NAIA, are 3-6 in 2024-25 and have lost four-straight before visiting USI. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Following the visit Shawnee State, USI starts the 2024-25 Ohio Valley Conference campaign next week. The Screaming Eagles will host Tennessee State University (December 19); University of Tennessee at Martin (December 21); and Morehead State University (December 31).

The USI-TSU game is the first of three special Thursday doubleheader offers called “812 Nights” with tickets being discounted to $8.12 for upper-level seating. Along with discounted prices, USI encourages fans to visit Hacienda West for their $8.12 small famous wet burrito that comes with a drink from 2-6 p.m. on the 3 dates of the promotion.

Customers can show their e-ticket from the game to receive this limited time offer at Hacienda West. Upon purchasing online tickets, use promo Code 812 at checkout of the following link https://usi.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx or call 812-465-1189 to lock in the offer.

All of the USI Basketball action can be seen live on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com). Tickets for the homestand and all USI home dates are on sale now at USIScreamingEagles.com.

USI announces the 2025 Hall of Fame Class

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Athletics is pleased to announce the selection of the 2025 USI Athletic Hall of Fame class that will be inducted during homecoming week in February. The class of six individuals and one team was selected by a nine-member USI Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

Any Screaming Eagles fan was eligible to nominate student athletes or teams on the 10th anniversary of their last season of competition, or a coach/administrator who has been separated from USI Athletics for two years.

This year’s class includes Angie Gries (Women’s Soccer 1996-99); Julia Kohnen ’14, M’15 (Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field 2010-15); Travis Marx ’94 (Men’s Soccer 1989-92); Greg Tassios ’85 (Men’s Soccer 1981-82); Chris Thompson (Men’s Basketball 2004-06); Rodney Watson (Men’s Basketball Head Coach 2009-20); and the 2014 NCAA Division II Baseball National Championship Team.

“I continue to be amazed by the number of outstanding student-athletes and teams this University has produced,” said USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall.  “The Class of 2025 truly represents our growing tradition here at USI. The six individuals and one team that will be honored in February are truly worthy of this extraordinary honor. I know that the entire USI community is proud of this class and what it accomplished while at USI.“

In addition to the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2025, USI is inducting John Deem, William “Bill” Wilson, and Dan Egierski into the Athletic Hall of Distinction for contributions to the success of the University’s varsity programs.

Reservations for the February 7 induction ceremony must be made in advance and online by clicking USI Athletic Hall of Fame Tickets. For more information, contact the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1189.

2025 USI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS
Angie Gries, Women’s Soccer: One of the top goalkeepers of all-time in USI Women’s Soccer. Gries ranks seventh in saves (236), second in goals against average (0.77), and second in career shutouts (27.5). The native of Evansville, Indiana, ranked first in each of the statistical categories after her collegiate career ended. She also was a two-time All-GLVC honoree and a member of USI’s 1998 Women’s Soccer Hall of Fame team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Julia Kohnen, Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field: Kohnen was a distinguished performer in three different sports at USI. In Cross Country and Track & Field, Kohnen earned four All-American and three Midwest All-Region honors and a first-team Academic All-America award. Kohnen was a three-time Academic All-GLVC performer in four seasons on the Women’s Soccer team, posting 43 career points on 17 goals and nine assists. For more on Kohnen’s career, visit her bio on USIScreamingEagles.com.

Travis Marx, Men’s Soccer: A top player on teams that won the GLVC championship in 1989, 1990, and 1991, while leading the Screaming Eagles into their first foray into NCAA Division I in 1992. Marx, who played professionally in England and was drafted in the MISL, finished his career ranked fifth in points (72), second in assists (34), and fourth in goals (19) all-time at USI. He also was named All-Region twice (1989, 1990) and All-GLVC three times (1989, 1990, 1991).

Greg Tassios, Men’s Soccer: Tassios was a top goalkeeper on Screaming Eagles teams that dominated the GLVC and the region in 1981 and 1982 after the program was created just two years before. The All-GLVC performer finished his career ranked first all-time in shutouts (26) and remained first in least goals conceded (12) in his two seasons.

Chris Thompson, Men’s Basketball: Thompson was a two-year starter for USI and was dominating in his second season. He was named first-team All-American, All-Region by Daktronics and Basketball Times in 2006, Midwest Player of the Year by Daktronics in 2006, and the GLVC co-Player of the Year. Thompson also was named first-team All-GLVC and was twice named the NCAA II Player of the Month during 2005-06.

Rodney Watson, Men’s Basketball: Watson became the ninth head coach for USI Men’s Basketball history in 2009-10, beginning with 23-straight victories. The Screaming Eagles soared during his 11 seasons as he became the program’s all-time winningest coach after the victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College in 2019. He was 251-82 (.754) during his tenure, including a 142-60 (.703) Great Lakes Valley Conference record.

During his tenure, Watson also led the Eagles to the 2019 NCAA II Elite Eight Semifinals; the 2019 NCAA II Midwest Regional Championship; seven NCAA Division II Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020); and two GLVC championships (2012 and 2014). The program also has produced seven All-Americans and 15 All-GLVC honorees during his time at USI. For more on Watson’s career, click on his bio on USIScreamingEagles.com.

2014 Baseball (NCAA II National Champion): The 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship baseball team was one of the most dominating post-season teams in the history of USI Athletics. The Screaming Eagles, who won 49 games during the season, swept through the national championship series with wins over the number one, two, three, and four ranked teams. USI also hosted the NCAA II Midwest Regional and defeated the 17^th and 18^th-ranked teams. For more on the 2014 season, see the schedule on USIScreamingEagles.com.

Giulia Cardona named AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention

Honor is second of UE career

University of Evansville senior Giulia Cardona earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Honorable Mention accolades in an announcement by the organization on Tuesday.

Cardona was selected by the Midwest Region.  She earned the accolade last season becoming the first Purple Aces volleyball player to be recognized.  There are 14 All-Region team members and 6-8 honorable mention selections in each of the 10 regions.  In total, 211 student-athletes earned All-Region honors with 108 different schools being represented.

One of the most decorated players in Missouri Valley Conference history became the first in UE history and just the second-ever MVC player to record 2,000 kills in her career.  She wrapped up her career with a total of 2,183, just 111 shy of the all-time league mark.

Despite missing the final five matches of the season, the 2023 MVC Player of the Year completed the 2024 season as the national leader in total kills (549), total points (611.5), total attacks (1,548), kills per set (5.60), points per set (6.24), and attacks per set (1,580).

Another highlight of the 2024 campaign came on Nov. 5 when Cardona was named the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week.  It marked the second such honor for Cardona and came in a week that saw her record 6.50 kills per set in wins over Illinois State and Bradley while hitting .357.

Earlier in the 2024 season, Cardona set the all-time UE program kills record.  The moment came on Sept. 28 when she surpassed the Aces record of 1,911, which was set by Alondra Vazquez.

• Birmingham Bulls:
  • Record: 9-3-3, 21 Points, 3rd Place
  • Leading Goal Scorer: Carson Rose (15 Goals)
  • Leading Point Scorer: Carson Rose (18 Points)
  • Primary Goaltender: Hayden Stewart (5-1-3, .911 Save %)
  • Thunderbolts Record vs BHM: 0-2