For two years, Eastern Michigan University students have been on the losing side in the annual Students vs. Alumni basketball game at the REC/IM. Senior co-captain Dominique Wade said he hopes this year is different.
“I want to beat them by at least 15 points this year,” Wade said.
Things will be a little different for this year’s game. After two years at the REC/IM, the game will be moving to the Convocation Center. Organizer Keith Jason, who works as the Coordinator of Student Services for the College of Technology, said the game was originally supposed to be played at Bowen Field House as part of the, failed, “Back to Bowen” event.
“[Men’s basketball coach] Rob Murphy thought it would be great for ‘Back to Bowen’,” Jason said.
Jason said the change happened a little faster than he had envisioned.
“It’s nice to see it there [at the Convo],” Jason said. “I just didn’t think it would be that fast.”
Wade said Jason was the reason he got involved two years ago.
“If it wasn’t for Keith, I wouldn’t have known about it,” Wade said.
Tryouts for the game were held at the REC/IM for the student team. Jason said about 40 to 50 students were interested in playing.
Jason said at least one former NBA player should be in attendance on the Alumni side, as well as some supporters of the program who are former NBA players.
Wade said he hopes the game will continue to gather interest for years to come, and that more students and alumni will participate.
Jason had some people to thank for helping his vision become reality.
“I appreciate [EMU] athletics for getting behind this vision and supporting it,” Jason said.
He also made it a point to mention the support of EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke, Vice President for Athletic Marketing Tony Orlando and Pakmode Media.
The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., before the men’s basketball team takes on Robert Morris University at 7:30 p.m.
He said people should stay so they could “see the men beat Robert Morris.”
Admission to the game is free for EMU students with valid student ID. Non-students will need a ticket for the men’s basketball game to enter.
For more information, including tryout information for next year, contact Keith Jason at kjason@emich.edu.
Follow Al Willman on Twitter: @AlWillmanEcho.
