Let me preface this story by saying this: It was all 100 percent my fault.

From the lack of training, to the lack of conditioning, to the lack of everything, it all could have been prevented with just a bit of practice. But, who needs practice for a fun, exhibition basketball game, right?

I was invited by Mississippi University for Women Director of Athletic Communications Dave Beyer to participate in a MUW staff v. Columbus VIP basketball game, their second-annual preseason exhibition game, as part of the Meet the Owls Night on Monday.

As much as those in attendance, scattered throughout the stands at Pohl Gymnasium, cared about this year’s’ women’s and men’s basketball rosters, the main draw came from the exhibition basketball game.

Even though both MUW teams were heavily invested in the game, as the representative for The Dispatch, I, unlike fellow reporter Colin Damms last year, let the paper down. Badly.

It wasn’t just that my out-of-shape self had to play most of a 20-minute semi-competitive basketball game, the first pickup game I had played since college, but also that I’m not particularly good at basketball.

Added together, and combined with too much focus on trying to hit three-pointers, and you get someone who put up “Tony Snell versus the Utah Jazz” numbers.

Seventeen minutes, 0-4 from the floor, zero rebounds, zero assists, zero steals, zero blocks, and a lot of heavy breathing.

I might have had one rebound, but I recovered it at halfcourt, so I really don’t consider it one. Needless to say, our VIP roster, which included Columbus mayor Keith Gaskin and Zachary’s owner Doug Pellum, was run off the floor by basically the entire MUW athletics department.

I will say, though, as I write this column still sore from the previous night’s events, mainly because I waited until the Friday before the event to pick up a basketball for the first time in months, the experience was well worth it.

Staff and coaches at MUW were welcoming and seemed to enjoy having us out there. The environment was a fun one, with players from both teams getting into it and the fans enjoying the festivities.

The Owls put on a great event, and I’m curious to see what both programs end up doing this season, their first as a full Division III and St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) members.

If asked, I would gladly play again next year – I just need to make sure I’m ready. I think I’ll start practicing now.