Evansville Basketball Struggles Continue in Final Weeks of Season

UE men's team sits in last place in the Missouri Valley Conference with four games left to play.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The University of Evansville men's basketball team is having a disappointing season, currently sitting in last place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 6-21 overall record and 2-14 conference mark. Coach David Ragland acknowledged the team's struggles, saying "you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself" as they try to finish the season strong. Evansville is assured of a bottom-two finish in the Valley, with a tough closing stretch featuring games against top teams Belmont, Murray State, Valparaiso, and Southern Illinois.

Why it matters

Evansville's struggles this season represent a significant setback for the program, which was hoping to take a step forward under Ragland. The team's offensive and defensive ratings rank last in the MVC, and they have already secured back-to-back 20-loss campaigns for the third time since 2019. This season will likely be a "worst-case scenario" for the Aces, barring a surprising run in the conference tournament.

The details

Evansville's latest outing was its worst home loss in the Ford Center era, falling 84-46 to UIC. The Flames hit 16 three-pointers, extending UE's struggles - the Aces have just one victory since January 10th. Injuries have been a repeated concern, with key players like Connor Turnbull, James Dyson-Merwe, and Alex Hemenway all missing time. This has led to a heavier burden on sophomore guard Camryn Runner, who is among the MVC's top players in scoring, rebounding, and assists.

  • Evansville has four games remaining in the regular season.
  • The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is scheduled for late March in Coralville, Iowa.

The players

David Ragland

The head coach of the University of Evansville men's basketball team.

Camryn Runner

A sophomore guard for Evansville who is among the top players in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring, rebounding, and assists.

Connor Turnbull

Last year's Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, who has only played twice since January 4th due to a nagging knee issue.

James Dyson-Merwe

An Evansville player who has been sidelined since February 6th.

Alex Hemenway

An Evansville player who was wearing a mask against UIC after breaking his nose in the previous outing.

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What they’re saying

“When you're going through something that we're going through, you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself. You've got to show up and put the work in. Be your best self anytime you have an opportunity to do what you love to do.”

— David Ragland, Head Coach (courierpress.com)

“It's not a happy locker room. The guys want to win. You have guys that are out that wish they could help. Then you have guys who are playing through their own sorenesses. It's tough. It's not fun.”

— David Ragland, Head Coach (courierpress.com)

What’s next

Evansville will face Belmont and Murray State on the road, as well as Valparaiso and Southern Illinois at home, in their final four regular season games.

The takeaway

Evansville's struggles this season represent a significant setback for the program, as they sit in last place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 6-21 record. Injuries and a lack of depth have contributed to the team's poor performance, and they will need to show a lot of fight and resistance in their final games to avoid a worst-case scenario for the 2025-26 campaign.