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For Immediate Release: October 14, 2001 Contact: John Hartrick Fans jam West Gym for Basketball Midnight Madness | ||||
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Students, alumni and community fans packed the West Gym Friday night,
October 12 for the 4th Annual Midnight Madness Celebration — a basketball
showcase representing the first allowable date that Division I schools
across the country can start practice. More than 2,200 fans were treated to face painting, indoor fireworks, food, music and giveaways galore, with the men’s and women’s basketball teams roaring in at the stroke of midnight. With fireworks blazing, the two-time defending ECAC champion women's basketball team took the floor for warm-ups, followed by a larger-than-life men's team that rocked the house with a slam-dunk contest. Seven-foot freshman Nick Billings nearly brought down the backboard with several flushes, and 6-foot-8 junior Stanley Ocitti showed his enormous athletic ability with numerous one-handed stuffs. Six-foot-six Minnesota native Andy Hannan captured the title, however, with an awesome performance. Beginning with a backwards bounce pass through his legs and off the glass, Hannan finished with a fierce throw-down to the delight of the crowd. Five students won cash and prizes worth more than $3,000, including a free semester meal plan and free textbooks. The evening also featured performances by the cheer team, dance team and kickline, and a special rendition of "God Bless the USA" by the campus singing group, The Vibrations. In conjunction with Homecoming on campus, the University's first Student of the Year competition concluded, and junior men's tennis player Sylvain Ruest was selected for the honor. Ruest, who carries a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average in mechanical engineering, will be awarded a $1,700 scholarship, a $500 gift certificate from the University Bookstore and a special plaque. | ||||
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