STARKVILLE — Fans will have two opportunities tonight to get their first look at the 2015-16 Mississippi State men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The teams will head to downtown Starkville at 6 p.m. to meet fans and sign autographs during Pumpkinpalooza before returning to Humphrey Coliseum at 9 p.m. for Maroon Madness.
The events will be fans’ first opportunities to get this year’s schedule cards and posters while meeting first-year men’s coach Ben Howland, reigning Southeastern Conference Women’s Coach of the Year Vic Schaefer, and their Bulldog teams.
Doors will open at 8 p.m. for Maroon Madness. Admission is free. The first 1,000 fans receive a free Maroon Madness T-shirt.
In addition to free T-shirts, two fans will have the opportunity to make a half-court shot for $25,000 each, while two others will attempt a three-quarter-court shot for $50,000 each.
Festivities include a 3-point shootout and dunk contest, and fans can have the chance to be a guest coach or guest judge through Maroon Memories (www.hailstate.com/memories).
n Women’s soccer team prepares for pivotal weekend: At Athens, Georgia, A pair of conference clashes will be on tap this weekend for the women’s soccer team, as the Bulldogs travel to Athens, Georgia, to face the Georgia Bulldogs before returning home to play host to No. 20 Kentucky on Sunday.
Both games will be broadcasted at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app. Fans are reminded to wear pink for Sunday’s match against Kentucky. The game will be the annual “Breast Cancer Awareness” match.
n Volleyball team will play host to Missouri: At Starkville, Looking to keep the momentum rolling after a thrilling five-set victory last Sunday against South Carolina, the volleyball team (12-5, 2-2 SEC) will play host to Missouri (14-1, 2-0) on at 7 tonight at the Newell-Grissom Building to close out a three-match home stretch.
It’s “Free Pizza Friday” at Newell-Grissom, as students will receive free pizza while supplies last. All fans will receive mini glow volleyballs, while supplies last. Also, new seating has come to The Griss, as fans will be allowed to sit on the floor. Bleachers have been set up in both end zones of the court area and chairs have been placed on the sideline opposite the team benches.
n Lee Falls At Riviera / ITA; enters consolation today: At Pacific Palisades, California, After winning three-straight matches to advance to the main draw of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships, Mississippi State’s Jasmine Lee dropped her opening-round match there on Thursday and will open consolation play today.
MSU’s 23rd-ranked junior lost to Florida’s second-ranked and No.1 seeded Brooke Austin 6-2, 7-6 (8) Thursday.
Lee’s first opponent for consolation play at 3:45 p.m. today will be Southern California’s 10th-ranked Giuliana Olmos.
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