Men’s basketball hosts WKU as Aces welcome back alumni
Game time set for 1 p.m. at Ford Center
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Meeting up for the first time in 15 years, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will face Western Kentucky as the squads meet up on Saturday at 1 p.m. inside the Ford Center. ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.
Purple Aces men’s basketball alumni from several previous squads will be back for the game. Purple Santa will be in the lobby posing for photos with fans.
Last Time Out
– After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half of Tuesday’s Missouri Valley Conference opener at Murray State, the Purple Aces rallied in the second half with a shot to win it at the buzzer before falling 63-61
– Gabriel Pozzato led UE with 15 points and 6 steals while Cam Haffner finished the game with 14 tallies
Still Going Strong
– For the 6th time this season, Cam Haffner scored in double figures, recording 14 points at Murray State on Tuesday
– Last season, Haffner scored in double figures just four times over the entire season
– Averaging 15.1 points per game Haffner is second on the team and 7th in the MVC
– 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
Highway Robbery
– Gabriel Pozzato’s defense was put on display at Murray State as he recorded a career-best six swipes
– That total is tied for the second-highest total in an NCAA game this season
– He added 15 points in the game and continues to lead the team with 15.4 PPG while scoring at least 8 points in all 8 games
Building Blocks
– In the MVC opener at Murray State, Josh Hughes recorded a career-high four blocked shots
– The effort improved his season average to 1.38 per game putting him second in the MVC
– Home court advantage has a new meaning this season for Hughes; in four games at the Ford Center, Hughes is averaging 13.8 PPG while shooting 64.5% (20-31)
Scouting the Opponent
– Western Kentucky comes into Saturday’s meeting with a 4-3 record following a 90-82 home win over Marshall on Nov. 30
– The Hilltoppers have won four of their last five games, defeating Campbellsville, Lipscomb, and Jackson State with their lone defeat over that span coming on the road at #8 Kentucky (68-87)
– Babacar Faye paces WKU with 15.0 points per game while shooting an efficient 54.0% on the season
– Faye also leads the Hilltoppers with 7.3 rebounds per game and a total of six blocked shots on the year
– Don McHenry and Julius Thedford come into the game averaging 14.4 and 13.4 PPG, respectively
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