Spartans To Stage Upstate Midnight Madness Monday
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2009
Spartanburg, S.C. - The tradition continues as USC Upstate will hold its version of Midnight Madness to unveil the 2009-10 men's and women's basketball teams to Spartan fans Monday night at 10:00 p.m. in the Hodge Center.
Door will open at 9:30 p.m. to allow fans to get their seats for the fun-filled night. The first 500 fans through the doors will receive the official 2009 Midnight Madness t-shirt. Free food and drinks will be available for everyone in attendance. Admission to Upstate's Midnight Madness is free.
Upstate fans will be introduced to the men's and women's basketball teams, watch thrilling action during the three-point shooting contest, and get in on the action in the hot shot and Academy Sports Half Court Shot contests. Fans will also be eligible to receive free giveaways featuring a Nintendo Wii, four tickets to a Charlotte Bobcats game, 50 gallons of gas, various gift cards and $100 for Greek and/or Student organization participation.
The night, though, will end on a high note when the Air Elite acrobatic dunk team takes to the Hodge floor with an amazing aerial display. Air Elite has performed at basketball venues throughout the world, including several major professional and college arenas.
The Upstate men's basketball team looks to build on the momentum from 2008-09 when the Spartans improved both its overall and A-Sun win totals. Nick Schneiders, the Spartans' 7-3 senior center and preseason all-conference team selection, returns to lead the team. He averaged 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while leading the conference with a school record 79 blocked shots last year. A strong nucleus of players return for head coach Eddie Payne, now in his eighth season at the helm of the Upstate program and celebrating his 25th year as a collegiate head coach. Juniors Josh Chavis (8.3 ppg) and Mezie Uzochukwu (6.3 ppg) and sophomore De'Marion Gordon (6.9 ppg), who was named to the A-Sun All-Freshman team last year, also return to lead Upstate. The Spartans open the season at Nebraska on Nov. 14 and return to the Hodge Center for their home opener against UNC Greensboro on Nov. 24.
The Upstate women's basketball team is coming off a solid second season on the Division I level in 2008-09. The Spartans, under fifth-year head coach Tammy George, finished the season with 13 wins while posting the 20th best turnaround in all of Division I women's basketball. Last year's newcomers Chelsea McMillan and Kendra Wallace return this season with a solid nucleus of players headed by senior Courtney Hakwins. McMillan, a junior this year, averaged 12.1 points last season, while Wallace, a sophomore, was named to the A-Sun All-Freshman team after averaging 12 points per game. Hawkins scored at an 11.2 ppg clip. The Spartans open the season at home against North Greenville on Nov. 13.
