For the first time, the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana will square off in a regular-season men’s basketball game as Division I opponents.
The Nov. 7 game at Ford Center — UE’s home arena, but a neutral site for this contest — was a long time coming. Officials from both universities say the community’s desire for a game was loud and clear, and with Old National Bank as title sponsor, they were pleased to finally get it scheduled.
It’s a one-game contract, to be called the River City Classic. UE and USI have met before in exhibition contests while USI was still a member of NCAA Division II. Officials say women’s basketball competition between the Purple Aces and Screaming Eagles is in the works, with specifics to be announced at a later time.
The Evansville Regional Sports Commission, promoting the June 15 announcement, called the game “monumental.” Athletic directors from UE and USI made clear they agree with that description.
“It’s fun to see how everyone is involved, and it took everyone to make this happen,” UE Director of Athletics Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried says. “We’re excited and can’t wait for the game, no matter what the result is.”
Added USI Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall, “When we decided to make the transition to Division I, it was a priority for us to play the University of Evansville in every sport. … It took us a little bit to get their men’s basketball. There’s a lot of different dynamics that people maybe don’t understand, but I appreciate Ziggy’s willingness to have those discussions.”
The River City Classic will not be a part of UE’s or USI’s season ticket package, but season ticket holders from both universities will have an opportunity to reserve their seats before tickets are made available to the general public, according to the Evansville Regional Sports Commission. General admission ticket sales will be available starting July 15 through the Ford Center.
Officials presented a glimpse of what the Ford Center atmosphere will look like for the game — an Old National Bank logo at the center jump circle, and a 50-50 crowd blended with purple and orange for the Purple Aces and red and blue for the Screaming Eagles.
Evansville Regional Sports Commission Executive Director Brandon McClish says the announcement was special for him to make, as a USI graduate who also served as general manager for UE sports broadcasting partner Learfield IMG College. He says the River City Classic resulted from “countless conversations” among multiple parties who wanted the community’s two Division I universities to finally tip off in basketball.
In addition to Old National Bank and the universities’ athletic directors, McClish credited Evansville Regional Economic Partnership CEO Lloyd Winnecke for helping to make the game happen.
McClish says the River City Classic will be “a marquee event” that creates “an experience for our student athletes, an experience for our fan bases, and an energy at the Ford Center.”
