The University of Evansville men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 78-76 victory over the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday night. The contest, held at the Ford Center, served as the inaugural River City Classic and marked the first regular-season meeting between the two cross-town programs.
Evansville’s Max Langenfeld proved to be the difference-maker in the closing moments of the game. With his team trailing by three points in the final seconds of regulation, Langenfeld “tied the game with a triple before giving the Purple Aces the lead for good in overtime.” Langenfeld finished the evening with 14 points, including four successful shots from beyond the arc.
Bryce Quinet led all scorers in the matchup, contributing 23 points for the Purple Aces. Teammate AJ Casey also reached double figures, adding 19 points to the winning effort. Despite the loss, the Screaming Eagles remained competitive throughout the contest, led by Afan Trnka, who recorded 22 points. USI held a slim lead for much of the first half, entering the break with a 35-30 advantage.
The game remained tight throughout the second half and the subsequent overtime period. While USI outrebounded Evansville by a margin of 47-45, the team struggled from the free-throw line, shooting 46.7 percent compared to Evansville’s 61.9 percent. Both head coaches acknowledged the intensity of the atmosphere at the Ford Center, which hosted a significant crowd for the rivalry debut. Evansville head coach David Ragland noted that the event was an emotional experience for both schools, praising the effort of both rosters in the closely contested battle. The victory moves the Purple Aces to 2-0 on the young season, while the Screaming Eagles fall to 1-2 following the narrow defeat.