Evansville Tops Indiana-Kokomo 80-70 in Opener
A.J. Casey led Evansville with 19 points and eight rebounds in the men's college basketball season opener.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Evansville defeated Indiana-Kokomo 80-70 in the men's college basketball season opener on Monday, November 2, 2026. A.J. Casey scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Evansville, while Bryce Quinet added 10 points and 11 assists.
Why it matters
The win gives Evansville a strong start to the season and establishes early balance in its scoring and playmaking for the Evansville community following its home opener. Early results like this set the tone for the team's standing as the season progresses.
Quinet shot 3 of 12 from the field and 1 of 5 from three-point range, while Makuei Riek scored 10 points on 2 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc. Indiana-Kokomo's Joseph Annan Jr. led all scorers with 16 points, and Brandon Addison added six rebounds in the loss.
The players
A.J. Casey
A.J. Casey is a forward for Evansville who led the team with 19 points and eight rebounds in the season opener.
Bryce Quinet
Bryce Quinet is a guard for Evansville who recorded 11 assists and scored 10 points in the season opener.
The details
Evansville held off Indiana-Kokomo in a 80-70 season-opening win played in Evansville, Ind. Casey led the Purple Aces' scoring effort, while Quinet's 11 assists anchored the offense despite a low shooting percentage from the field.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Evansville defeats Indiana-Kokomo 80-70 in the season opener.
Season Trajectory
Opening-night results set the early tone for NCAA Division I men's basketball, where early records can shape postseason positioning. Evansville's 80-70 win starts its season with a record that will factor into its standing in the Missouri Valley Conference race.
Quinet's 11 assists and Casey's rebound total give fantasy managers a sense of the team's distribution in the season opener. Evansville visits Southern Indiana on Saturday, the next game on the schedule.
The takeaway
The opener shows Evansville can win with balanced production, with Casey carrying scoring and Quinet supplying playmaking. The early win gives the team a clear starting point heading into its road trip to Southern Indiana.
What happens next
Evansville visits Southern Indiana on Saturday.
Further reading
Follow more Evansville coverage in the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
