Basketball Buzz Builds on University of St. Thomas Campus October 31, 2009
Houston, Texas 77006
Basketball Buzz Builds on University of St. Thomas Campus
The University of St. Thomas men’s basketball team has imagined the scene for its season-opening game at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 – donning the red and gold home uniforms in front of an enthralled crowd eager for the school’s first basketball game in more than 20 years.
The Celts have not fielded a men’s basketball team since 1985. UST Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball Coach Todd Smith acknowledged there is a buzz around campus. He expects to challenge the 800-seat capacity of the Jerabeck Athletic Center gymnasium for the season opener against Wiley College.
“Because we’ve had so much interest we’re going to have to cap admission; we might not be able to let everybody in,” Smith said. “People are really excited about the Oct. 31 date. I expect a great crowd and a lot of electricity. I think it’s going to be something, hopefully, that we can build on for the rest of the year.”
Basketball is the latest addition to UST’s intercollegiate athletic renewal, which began with volleyball in 2006 and continued with men’s soccer in 2007. UST is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics playing in the Association of Independent Institutions (AII).
The team is a mix of nine freshmen, six transfer students and one player who was previously enrolled at UST. The players come to UST from predominantly Houston area schools, however, students from as far as Humble, Montgomery and Liberty Hill now call UST home.
General admission tickets cost $3. Children under the age of 6 are admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased or picked up at the front desk of the Jerabeck Athletic and Activity Center, 4000 Mt. Vernon, Houston, TX 77006, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information about the game and ticket sales please call the St. Thomas Athletic Department at 713-831-7214 or tsmith1@stthom.edu
Added by ustcommunications on October 23, 2009