SPORTS

Waters, Vikes open home slate on Nov. 16

BY NICK CAMINO

The Cleveland State men’s basketball team will not open the 2009-2010 season at home next month, but three days after they do the Vikings host a morning showdown at the Wolstein Center with the Wilmington Quakers.

Fresh off the most successful season in school history, CSU opens their tough docket of regular season games Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Olean, N.Y. when they take on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. That following Monday, Nov. 16, head coach Gary Waters and the Vikings host Ohio Athletic Conference Division III school, Wilmington for an 11:30 a.m. tip-off.

It is a unique way to begin the season, CSU Ticket and Merchandise Manager Carrie Neville said.

“That Monday night the Cleveland Browns are on Monday Night Football, so this morning start time avoids any type of conflict with them,” she said. “Also, it gives business people in downtown Cleveland an opportunity to come see an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago around the lunch hour.”

“This match up will provide people some great entertainment as well as a place to come eat lunch,” Neville explained.

Another group that may be in the Wolstein Center that morning are school children, Neville said.

“We are hoping schools will also come down for class field trips that day,” she said.
CSU is coming off a great 2008-2009 season, that saw the Vikings defeat Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 84-69 as well as a Horizon League Championship and a 26-11 record.

Wilmington is led by second-year head coach K.C. Hunt and is coming off one of their best seasons in school history as well. Last season the Quakers were nationally ranked in Division III and finished the season with a record of 16-10 before losing to Muskingum in the quarterfinals of the 2009 OAC Tournament.

The Vikings do play one exhibition home game with cross-town OAC squad John Carroll University Monday, Nov. 9 prior to the regular season home opener against the Quakers. The Blue Streaks and Quakers played twice in the regular season last year, with John Carroll winning both contests.