For the 10th time in its Division I history, the University of Evansville Men’s Basketball team will take on a top five opponent as the Purple Aces travel to Durham, North Carolina, to play 4th-ranked Duke today at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT and ESPN2 will have live coverage.

Senior Blake Simmons has continued his banner season in his final year with the Purple Aces. In victories over Austin Peay and Midway, Simmons averaged 18 points per game while shooting 60% from the field (12-of-20); Simmons matched his career-high of 18 points in both contests. Over his last five games, Simmons has averaged 16.2 points per game and has seen his season average jump to 12.3 PPG.

Making his first start on Sunday against Midway, K.J. Riley led UE to its fifth win in a row while falling just three assists shy of a triple double. The Bronx, New York, native finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven helpers. In two games over the weekend, Riley averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while getting to the line an unbelievable 28 times in two games; Riley hit 21 free throws over the weekend - the opposition combined to shoot just 17 free throws in the two games. His top game as a member of the UE squad came on Saturday against Austin Peay as he notched 22 points while hitting 14 out of 17 free throw attempts.

A 19-point effort against Midway marked the best in the young career of freshman Noah Frederking. The Okawville, Illinois, product hit six field goals and four free throws in the win. He has started the last six games for UE, helping them win five of those contests. In his starts, Frederking has played an average of 28.5 minutes per game while reaching double digits in three of the last five games. He has played at least 15 minutes in each of the last eight games overall.

UE ranks 15th in the country, allowing just 61.9 points per game. It currently stands as the #2 defense in Evansville’s Division I history; the top defense in the 1981-82 season allowed just 60.1 PPG over 29 games.

Winning eight of its first ten games, the Purple Aces are 10-2 for the third time in four years. Between 1989 and 2014, the team did not record one such start.

Duke enters today’s contest with an 11-1 mark and are ranked fourth in the country. After starting the season at 11-0 and moving to #1 in the nation, the Blue Devils dropped their ACC opener at Boston College, 89-84. Marvin Bavley III leads the Blue Devils with 21.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Bagley leads the NCAA with 102 field goals while his 135 total rebounds are second. Grayson Allen sits with 17.2 PPG. Trevon Duval is sixth in the nation with 80 assists.

Since the 1948-49 season, the University of Evansville has squared off against 70 ranked opponents, posting a 16-54 mark. Evansville has knocked off a ranked opponent in five out of the last eight seasons.

Complimentary white and red Christmas poinsettias are available in Neu Chapel. Feel free to take one home with you and/or share one with a friend.

Neu Chapel is open all this week, first come, first served.

(Please note that poinsettias are toxic to cats and dogs and can prove fatal to small animals of all kinds.)

Merry Christmas!

Campus members are invited to nominate someone to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mays Legacy Award on January 15, during the William and Dr. Rose May lectureship.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award recognizes and affirms those who have made significant and tangible contributions in the areas of race relations, justice, and human rights. The award is presented annually at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Lectureship to a UE alumni or campus member selected by the University of Evansville Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee. The purpose of the award is to recognize and affirm those who have made significant contributions in the areas of race relations, justice, and/or human rights.

Award Criteria:
1. The nominee has been personally or corporately involved in making tangible, visible, and meaningful contributions to the advancement of race relations, justice, and/or human rights causes.
2. The nominee must be an alumni, or current or past University of Evansville campus member, or a community member who has contributed to the University of Evansville and its mission for diversity and inclusion.

Selection Process:
1. The MLK Jr. Committee reviews all nominations and decides the winner for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mays Legacy Award. The MLK Jr. Committee shall notify the winner in January and invite the winner to attend the Lectureship and reception. The President of the University of Evansville and/or the Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or other committee members will present the award at the Lectureship.

The deadline for submitting nominations is January 8. Nominations may be made by submitting the information to LaNeeca Williams at lw161@evansville.edu.

Submitted by LaNeeca Williams lw161@evansville.edu

The Fitness Center will be open January 2-5 from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; closed on January 6 and January 7; and open on January 8 from 6:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 

Submitted by Lori Adams la87@evansville.edu

After 22 years of dedicated service to the University of Evansville, Sherri Chambliss will be retiring January 5. Sherri has impacted the lives of hundreds of UE PT and PA students and families who will forever be grateful for her service. Stop by and see Sherri and wish her well! 

The UE Bookstore will have reduced hours during the week of December 18-22. The store will be open 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Friday, December 22, will be the last day of operation until the new year. Please plan your visit accordingly.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu 

The December Pcard cycle ends on December 21. Since the first day to run reports is December 23, the GL lockout/upload date has been extended. December cycle reconciliations must be completed prior to close of business on January 2. The December GL lockout/upload date is January 3.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu 

Official transcripts for current students will not be available from December 7-20.

Submitted by Teresa Haller th227@evansville.edu 

In its final non-conference game of the season, the University of Evansville women's basketball team fell to SEMO, 74-65, on the road in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

"We fought, but unfortunately we put ourselves in some bad situations. SEMO is too good of a team to do that against," said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. "I keep telling them we're close. Hopefully this break serves us well and it’s a new season come conference play ... and we can get past this first half of the season and come back re-energized and ready to go."

Leading the Aces was junior guard Kerri Gasper who finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while senior guard Brooke Dossett added 13 points and four assists. The Redhawks were led by Adrianna Murphy who just missed a triple-double with 26 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists on the afternoon.

SEMO started the game on a tear, scoring eight unanswered points to open up an 8-0 lead over the Aces just 3:09 into the contest. Evansville responded with a 15-6 run to close the quarter, fueled by six points by sophomore center Kaylan Coffman that gave the Aces a 15-14 lead after the first 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Aces increased their lead to six at 20-14 with 6:34 left in the half on a jumper by Gasper and a three-pointer by sophomore guard Crimson Jones. The Redhawks answered with an 11-2 run that gave SEMO a 25-22 advantage before junior center Kelsi Scott hit a pair of free throws in the waning moments of the half to cut the Aces' deficit to 25-24 heading into the break.

In what proved to be a back-and-forth battle, Evansville regained the lead at 30-27 as junior center Tattenai Hall converted a three-point play. The Aces' lead grew as large as four on a three by graduate guard Hannah Noe with 6:03 left in the quarter, but SEMO utilized a 15-5 run to push in front 49-43. At the buzzer, Murphy pulled-up from 35 feet out and banked in a three that increased the Redhawks' advantage to 52-43 with one quarter left to play.

A game that was highlighted by runs featured one last attack by the Aces to open the fourth quarter. An 11-3 run from Evansville capped-off by a layup by Gasper trimmed SEMO's lead all the way to one at 55-54 with 7:21 remaining on the clock. As was true most of the afternoon, the Redhawks found a pair of timely three-pointers and rebuilt their margin to 12 just minutes later as SEMO captured the 74-65 win.

Evansville kept up with the Redhawks in the rebounding battle as SEMO finished with a narrow 39-37 advantage on the boards. The Aces committed 19 turnovers to just 10 for SEMO although the Redhawks converted the turnovers into only 16 points.

The Aces take 10 days off for the holidays before returning to action on December 29 to start Missouri Valley Conference play as the Aces host Southern Illinois at 7:00 p.m. on December 29 inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.