The ABA Central Region Red Division began the 2026-27 American Basketball Association (ABA) season over the weekend of Oct. 17-18, 2026 with three of the four teams in action.
The Red Division and Central Region champions, the Nashville Aces, hit the road on Oct. 17 to battle the Blue Division finalists, the Hoosier State Instigators, in Fishers, Indiana. In what was a predictably competitive game, the Aces secured the road win, 111-100.
The Aces were scheduled to play against the Naptown Pirates in Indianapolis on Oct. 18, but that game was cancelled due to venue unavailability.
The Middletown Maulers played host to the visiting Louisville Pros on Oct. 17 at the Robert ‘Sonny’ Hill Community Center in Middletown, Ohio.
Maulers rookie Johrdon Mumford emphatically announced his arrival to the ABA with 30 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Darweshi Hunter piled up 25 points, 9 rebounds, an assist, two steals, and a block while his Middletown teammate Jesse Olverson contributed 23 points, eight rebounds, an assist, a team-leading five steals, and a team-leading four blocks as the Maulers earned a 135-78 win in their season opener.
Shamar Overstreet turned in a double-double of his own for the Louisville Pros, scoring 13 points and securing 10 rebounds. Overstreet tied for the team lead with seven assists, and he led the squad in steals (6) and blocks (2). Dominique “Domo” Williams led the Pros in scoring with 17 to go along with his six rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
The Knoxville Commerce were scheduled to play on the road at the Mississippi Delta Lucky Ducks on Oct. 18, but that game was cancelled for reasons unknown to Minotaur Media.
Instead, they played an exhibition game against the Nashville Aces and won 121-119.
