Evansville opened their season with an 80-70 win over Indiana-Kokomo last night, and A.J. Casey was absolutely electric, dropping 19 points right out of the gate. That’s how you kick off the season, right? Casey was just everywhere, making plays and setting the tone early for the Purple Aces’ first outing.
Casey Shines Bright, Quinet’s Vision is Clear
Casey didn’t just light up the scoreboard; he also pulled down eight crucial rebounds, showing he’s ready to dominate on both ends. This kid looks like he means business. While Casey was the undisputed star, Bryce Quinet added 10 points and dished out a mind-blowing 11 assists. That’s pure vision right there, setting up his teammates all night long. The only wrinkle? Quinet struggled a bit with his shot, going 3 for 12 from the field and just 1 for 5 from beyond the arc. He hit all three of his free throws, which is a good sign, but you know the coaching staff will want to see that field goal percentage climb. Makuei Riek also got into double digits with 10 points, though he too shot 3 for 10 from the field, including 2 for 7 from long range. It’s early, but getting those percentages up will be key as the season rolls on.
Cougars Scramble, But Evansville Holds On
On the other side, Joseph Annan Jr. led the fight for Indiana-Kokomo, putting up 16 points to try and keep his team in the game. Hudson Horvath chipped in with 12 points, and Brandon Addison grabbed six rebounds to go along with his nine points. They showed some grit, but Evansville had the firepower to keep them at bay. It was a solid opening win, but you can bet the coaching staff has already circled those shooting numbers for some work in practice.
Evansville is back on the court this Saturday when they visit Southern Indiana. Can they keep that winning momentum going, and will those field goal percentages start to climb? We’ll be watching to see how this team starts to gel after their first official game!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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