The Weber State men’s and women’s basketball teams played in front of their fans for the first time this season on Wednesday night, as they competed in the annual Purple and White exhibition games.

The women’s team played the first game on Wednesday night. The White squad came away with the win, 43-29.

Senior guard Brianna Averette was a perfect 4-4 shooting from the field, and she made her only three-point attempt, giving her nine points on the night for the White squad. Averette also pulled down two rebounds and recorded three assists in the 20-minute match. Junior guard Dionne Coe led the White squad with 13 points, shooting 5-8 from the field and a team-high 3-5 from three-point range. Coe also pulled down a team-high four rebounds and tied for the game high with two steals.

For the Purple squad, junior forward Jalen Carpenter led the team with a game-high 15 points, shooting 7-16 from the field. Carpenter also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds in the loss. The Purple squad had four players record at least five rebounds in the loss, as Purple out-rebounded White 24-16.

“We have to continue to work hard and we have to get tougher,” said coach Bethann Ord. “We will work on the little things like turnovers and rebounds but the little things are the important things.”

After the women’s team left the court, the men’s team stepped out for their turn. The men’s Purple squad came out victorious in a 36-35 overtime victory.

The Purple squad was led by reigning Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year Jeremy Senglin, who scored 13 points while pulling down three rebounds and recording two assists and two steals. Sophomore forward Kyndahl Hill added seven points and three rebounds, as well as a block and a steal in the victory.

Much like in the women’s game, the game-high scorer was on the losing squad, as junior forward Joel Bolomboy scored 17 points for the White squad, shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field. Bolomboy also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds, while also recorded a block and a steal.

“It felt good to get in front of people and let everyone see what we can do,” Bolomboy said. “It was good for our younger players to play in front of a crowd. We still have a lot to work on but we will get there.”

The men’s basketball team returns to action on Nov. 1, when they host St. Katherine in an exhibition match at 7 p.m. They will begin their regular season on Nov. 14 at Utah State, and will hold their home opener on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., when the Wildcats host Presentation College.

The women’s basketball team will return to action on Nov. 6 when they host Adams State in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. The Wildcats’ season will start on Nov. 14, when they host Montana-Western at 7 p.m.