Aces improve to 2-0 for first time since 2019

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Fifteen University of Evansville men’s basketball players saw floor time and made their way into the scorebook as the Purple Aces tied the program Ford Center scoring record in a 116-46 win over UHSP on Thursday evening.

UE improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2019 with the victory.  Six players reached double figures with the team doing an admirable job of spreading the ball around.  Making his collegiate debut, Braylon Jackson led the squad with 14 points.  Yacine Toumi totaled 13 while Chuck Bailey III added 12.  Sekou Kalle and Ben Humrichous tallied 11 apiece and Tanner Cuff scored 10.

With a total of 65 rebounds, UE put forth its best-ever effort at the Ford Center, breaking the previous mark of 58 caroms against Mississippi Valley State in 2015.  It marked the first time the Purple Aces had 60+ boards since totaling 61 versus SIU Edwardsville in 2008.  Kalle had a game-high 9 rebounds.

“Going into this game, we talked about our discipline, emotion and maturity,” UE head coach David Ragland said.  “We have worked to get better every day in every category.  Those things are important; I was proud of our focus, attention to detail and preparation.”

In the second half, Evansville’s walk-ons received added playing time and Ragland was proud of the effort from those guys.

“They work extremely hard and show up every single day in practice and do their job.  We love having them as part of the program.  Getting them into the game and showcasing what they have been working on is exciting.”

Gage Bobe and Cam Haffner knocked down early 3-pointerss to help the team score the first 12 points of the game.  The Aces connected on five of their opening eight attempts while the Eutectics were 0-for-6 to begin the game before hitting their seventh attempt.

Braylon Jackson made his first appearance in an Aces uniform and quickly found the scoreboard as he completed the first half with eight points.  His first collegiate basket gave UE a 24-6 lead before Cam Haffner hit a layup to make it a 20-point game with 12:05 remaining in the period.

Evansville would push the lead to as many as 33 in the opening period before taking a 61-29 lead into the halftime break.  Ben Humrichous led the way with nine points as all 10 players to see the floor in the half found their way into the scorebook.  UE’s first-half tally was the first time the program recorded 60 points in a half since posting 62 against Earlham on Nov. 15, 2014.

Things continued to go Evansville’s way in the second half as the team reached triple digits for the first time since Nov. 22, 2021 when the team scored 104 against Rice.  It was the first time the Aces reached the century mark at the Ford Center since dropping 101 on Miami Ohio on Dec. 7, 2019.

Multiple players made their first appearances this season in the latter stanza as Tyler Myers, Cameron Gehlhausen, Dakota Candler, Michael Day and Weston Aigner all saw extended playing time.  Evansville pulled away to finish the night with a 116-46 victory.

Jas Suvalija and Brady Bowers led the Eutectics with 17 points each.

For the first time this season, the Aces take to the road when they head to Cape Girardeau on Wednesday to face Southeast Missouri State.

 2023 SIAC ALL CONFERENCE BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS 

FIRST TEAM 

PLAYER GRADE SCHOOL 

Jackson Nolan 11 Reitz 

Sawyer Mossberger 11 Reitz 

Calvin Seitz 9 Jasper 

Kyle Sterchi 12 North 

Dane Kramer 10 Castle 

Cole Yunker 12 Castle 

Carter Zieren 9 Reitz 

Wylee Kippenbrock 12 Jasper 

SECOND TEAM 

PLAYER GRADE SCHOOL 

Elias Wallace 11 North 

Nathan Whitacre 9 Castle 

William Hirsch 12 Memorial 

Caleb Meritt 11 Reitz 

Max Kline 11 Jasper 

Andrew Foster 9 Memorial 

Colton Rockers 12 Reitz 

Will Dierlam 9 Reitz 

Runner of the Year 

Jackson Nolan, Reitz 

Coach of the Year 

Kevin Schipp, Jasper 

The Purple Aces add four new guards as part of their 2024 class

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball program has announced the signing of four new players for the 2024-25 season on National Signing Day.

The Purple Aces welcome players from across the Midwest as part of their 2024 class. UE’s latest group of signees includes two point guards and two shooting guards from Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.

“We hit a home run with this recruiting class!” says Head Coach Robyn Scherr-Wells. “This group compliments our current freshmen class and helps us ensure we are building the right way for the future. These four players are all very skilled guards who can shoot, score at the rim, and play in our press and up-tempo offense. They all share qualities of being intense competitors, being in great shape, being high character individuals, and being excellent students,”.

The Aces first player to verbally commit in the spring was 5’10” shooting guard Kylee Norkus. “Kylee has a non-stop motor and will be a great asset in our press and transition offense,” says Scherr-Wells. “When Kylee committed to UE in the spring, I was already so excited about what she would bring to our program. And then I watched her game get better and better over the summer.

“She does the obvious things well like scoring in transition and getting to the rim and making shots, but it’s all the little things that I get excited about. Her court vision and her ability to find her teammates grew so much in the past year. Her ability to rebound defensively and then lead the break fits perfectly for what we do. Her competitive drive and work ethic are phenomenal. She has gained great experience playing on the EYBL circuit and in a very competitive high school conference. Kylee will make an immediate impact at the wing for us!”

Norkus comes to Evansville from Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville Ill. Over her past three as a starter for the Wildcats, Norkus has been named All-Conference and All-Area in back-to-back years. She was also named to the IBCA All-State team last winter for her help in leading Neuqua Valley to a Regional Championship. Last season, Norkus averaged 16 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and four assists per game.

“I chose UE because of the phenomenal coaching staff to help me continue to grow and develop to my fullest potential athletically,” says Norkus. “Evansville’s community is extremely welcoming and supportive of their student-athletes.  I’m looking forward to adding my contributions on and off the court for UE. I’m escstatic to be an ACE!”

UE welcomes a local recruit to its 2024 class in point guard Avery Kelley. Playing just down the street at Reitz Memorial High School, Kelley is staying home following three successful seasons with the Tigers. “The first time I saw Avery play as a sophomore at Memorial, I knew she was a player we needed to keep home at UE,” says Scherr-Wells. “The pace and tenacity at which she played as a young high schooler stood out to me. Avery has toughness and grit to go along with skill.

“She shoots the ball really well and has a good feel for how to create opportunities for her teammates as a point guard. She is a gym rat and comes from a family of athletes. She will set the tone of what it looks like to put the time into the gym. I am so excited she has chosen to stay home in Evansville!”

Along with playing basketball, Kelley is a multisport athlete having spent two years on the Tiger’s softball team and one year on the track team. Over the past three years on the court, Kelley has been named an Indiana Jr. All-Star, a First Team selection for both All-Conference and All-Region and an All-State honorable mention. Last season, Kelley averaged 15 points per game with 4 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Kelley comes from a family with a strong collegiate athletic background as both her parents’ played basketball at Murray State in the late 1990s.

“I chose to play for UE because of the people,” says Kelley. “The coaching staff and players all have enthusiastic personalities and a love for the game. I know I’m going to a great school with the ability to teach me new skills on and off the court.

“Being able to have my friends and family come to all my games and support me is another great factor. I’m super excited to be able to wear Evansville on my chest and play for the team I grew up watching and wanting to be part of!”

Evansville’s third signee comes from the Bluegrass State in guard Logan Palmer. Palmer hails from Union, Ky. where she has been a four-year starter at Randall K. Cooper High School. “We had the opportunity to watch Logan grow as a player over 2 full years of recruitment,” says Scherr-Wells. “It has been a joy to see her game improve and her confidence in herself grow.

“She is such a good athlete and watching her go from being a forward as a young player in high school to developing into her college position as a wing with her AAU team over the last year has been really fun. Her shooting range has grown so much and has made her a threat from all spots on the floor. She is just scratching the surface of what she can be as a basketball player. I think Logan was really underrated in the recruiting process and we are pumped that she has chosen to be an Ace!”

Last season, Palmer averaged nine points, three rebounds, 45% shooting from the floor, and 80.5% shooting from the free throw line. Palmer helped the Jaguars make a run to the Kentucky State Tournament Final Four in 2023 where they fell at Rupp Arena to Mercy High School. Along with making the Final Four in 2023, Palmer was a consistent starter in back-to-back region titles for Cooper where she was named to the District All-Tournament Team and an All-State Honorable Mention.

“I chose UE because it felt like family,” says Palmer. “The coaching staff is backed up by an amazing team of loving girls who all have the same goal. Basketball is more than just a sport and UE displays just that.

“I truly believe UE will push, stretch, and mold me into the best version of myself on and off the court. I’m so excited to see all we have in store! Go Aces!!”

The Aces’ final 2024 signee on National Signing Day is shooting guard Camryn Runner. Runner will join UE from Hamilton Heights where she is a four-year starter for the Huskies. “The more I watched Camryn this summer, the more I fell in love with her game,” says Scherr-Wells. “Her Indiana Elite team on the Adidas circuit won a ton of games this summer, and she was a very important piece.

“I love that Camryn can play both the point and shooting guard. She plays with so much joy and toughness. She makes everyone around her better. I would sit courtside at her games and I could hear how well she communicates on the court, and the confidence she gives her teammates. She shoots the 3 really well. She is a player who can score when you need her to but also has no problem creating for and feeding her teammates. She is a natural leader and I cannot wait to see the impact she will have on our campus!”

Runner is a three-time All-State, All-Sectional, and All-Conference honoree as the Huskies have made three runs to regionals in class 3A. After three years, Runner is already a 1,000-point scorer having averaged almost 19 points a game while being 5^th in the state in free throws with 157. Runner is also active on the club basketball circuit with Indiana Flight, a team that was a National Runner Up in the Adidas circuit over the summer. Along with playing basketball, Runner spends time on the Huskies golf and track and field teams.

“I chose UE because of the welcoming environment I experienced on my visit,” says Runner. “I could immediately tell the coaching staff and university had nothing but the best intentions for me. Another reason why I chose UE would be the education that I will receive for the next 4 years to set me up for my future career,”.