Thursday, June 16, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (June 16, 2005) - East Tennessee State point guard Tim Smith (Newport News, Va.) announced on Thursday that he will return to the Buccaneers for his senior season in 2005-06. Smith, who had put his name in the NBA Draft pool, said he wanted to end his college career on a high note.

"Last season was hard for everyone and we want to get back to what we accomplished in my first two years here," said Smith, who helped lead the Bucs' to back-to-back Southern Conference Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. "I'm really excited about this year's team and what we can do. We want to make it back to the NCAA Tournament and make a run. We have the ability to do that."

Smith, a multiple all-conference selection the past three years, will enter the Bucs' inaugural season in the Atlantic Sun Conference fifth on the program's all-time scoring list. He is on pace to catch the all-time leading scorer, Greg Dennis, who netted 2,204 points from 1987-1992.

"Doing something like that would be great, but I'm happier when we're winning," Smith said. "That's most important."

ETSU will open its 2005-06 campaign with an exhibition game against Mars Hill on Nov. 10, followed by the regular season opener on Nov. 18 at Tennessee. Keep visiting ETSUBucs.com for season ticket information later this summer.