Fans fill Brooks Gym Quad to celebrate the start of a new basketball season with contests and fireworks   

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 27, 2014) – Approximately 1,000 fans were on hand Monday evening for fun, festivities and fireworks to help usher in the 2014-15 ETSU basketball seasons and kickoff Homecoming week at the Bluenanza “Tipoff to Basketball” event on the quad in front of Brooks Gym.

The night’s festivities began with a parade throughout campus which ended on the Brooks Gym Quad where free food was provided for students. Introductions of players and head coaches from both Buccaneer basketball teams then occurred in front of a large crowd of supporters.

Next, four ETSU students – who completed last week’s Bucky’s Bead Challenge -- had the opportunity to win free in-state tuition for a semester by making a shot in a basketball goal positioned in front of Brooks Gym from atop the building. The students even had the aid of four current ETSU basketball players to make the shot if they were unsuccessful. No successful attempts by students or players were accounted for and tries by ETSU president Dr. Brian Noland and his son, Jackson, -- to award each of the four students with a $1,000 scholarship -- were also errant.

The event ended with a fireworks display as fans exited the quad-area.

Both men’s head basketball coach Murry Bartow and women’s head basketball coach Brittney Ezell were encouraged by Monday night’s showing by the fans and hope it is an indication of the home-court advantage that both teams will have this season.

“What an incredible night,” said Ezell. “The atmosphere on the quad was awesome and I know both of our basketball teams, as well as the entire student government association, appreciate the support. We look forward to seeing this same level of excitement at games in the coming months.”

“We're really excited about the turnout from our students and supporters here tonight,” said Bartow. “We hope to have this same enthusiasm and passion carry over to our games this season inside Freedom Hall.”

Preseason basketball festivities will continue over the next several days of Homecoming week with the men’s Blue – Gold Game -- featuring an open scrimmage and skill competitions -- inside Freedom Hall on Thursday at 7 p.m., while the women will kickoff exhibition play on Saturday with a matchup against Milligan College at noon inside Brooks Gym. Admission to the Blue – Gold Game will be free of charge, while tickets for Saturday’s contest versus Milligan will be $5 and will be available for on-site purchase.  

For more information on ETSU basketball season tickets, click here.

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