Noises were heard coming from the Events Center this past weekend. Don’t worry, you did not miss the first basketball game.
Instead it was Late Nite Madness that took place last Friday at Binghamton University’s multi-purpose arena, home to Binghamton’s basketball teams. The event, which was geared toward current students, alumni and locals, included various fun-filled activities — some basketball related, some not.
Basketball-related activities included an introduction of both the men’s and women’s teams, a dunk contest, a “shooting stars” competition and various foul-shooting contests for a select few people chosen from the crowd.
Big man Kyrie Sutton, 6-foot-4 swingman D.J. Rivera and 6-foot point guard Malik Alvin, all of whom are a part of head coach Kevin Broadus’ talented recruiting class this season, comprised the dunk contest participant roster.
As Broadus promised a few weeks earlier at Basketball Media Day, the crowd was treated to a “different kind of athleticism” this year.
The 6-foot-9 Sutton’s performance was highlighted by a thunderous windmill dunk. Alvin really impressed with a self-alley-ooped, 360-degree dunk. Rivera, who won the contest and was also the team favorite to win, first jumped over a teammate on one attempt, and then a woman from the crowd on his second attempt to the delight of all in attendance.
The “shooting stars” competition included teams of three: one men’s player, one women’s player and one alumnus.
Participants each shot from various spots on the court. Mike Gordon competed as an alumnus and the crowd showed its gratification for all that the former Bearcat did for the school’s basketball program. The other two participating alumni were Steve Proctor, graduating class of ‘07, and Bess Greenberg, who was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame on Friday. Everyone was surprisingly accurate from the field, including a shot roughly halfway between half court and the 3-point line attempted by a player from the men’s squad.
Among those that would fall under the “not basketball related” category was Simon Says guru Steve Max, who led a group of roughly 60 students in a game of, you guessed it, Simon Says. Max, whose next stop is Detroit, Mich., where he will perform at the halftime of a Pistons game, was extremely entertaining and a great addition to the event. There were also numerous iPod Touch giveaways and a trampoline team that performed various aerial tricks.
Late Nite Madness gave only a taste of what is to come this season. Bearcats fans must make sure to come support the teams on Nov. 14 for the men’s home opener and Nov. 21 for the women’s home opener.