EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In the first and only exhibition game of the preseason, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team welcomes Tiffin University to the Ford Center on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game.
It will be the first opportunity for fans to see the 2024-25 Purple Aces squad. A solid nucleus or returning players join six newcomers to the team. Leading the way for the returners from last year are Tanner Cuff, Joshua Hughes, and Cam Haffner. Cuff contributed in all facets of the game in his first season at UE. He completed the year averaging 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
As a freshman, Hughes led the team with 38 blocked shots while registering 6.6 PPG. Haffner made the start in 16 games while finishing third on the team with 33 3-point makes.
Evansville’s newcomers include Gabriel Pozzato, Kaia Berridge, Tayshawn Comer, Connor Turnbull, Ramondo Battle II, and Trent Hundley.
UE looks to build on a breakout 2023-24 season that saw the program make its first postseason appearance since 2015. Earning 17 victories, the Aces posted their highest win total since 2017-18 and picked up their first Arch Madness win since 2017, defeating Illinois State in St. Louis. The team won its first six games, the first Evansville team to do so since the 1964-65 NCAA National Championship squad.
Tiffin is led by first-year head coach Desmond Balentine, brother of current UE assistant coach D.J. Balentine. He spent two seasons on the coaching staff with the Dragons before his elevation to the head coaching position. The Dragons were 18-12 last season.
