Bearcats Trounce New Jersey Tech

The Binghamton Student Association Programming Board, Late Nite Binghamton and the Binghamton University athletic department revealed yesterday that they will be sponsoring ‘Late Nite Madness,’ which will be held on Friday, Oct. 12, starting at 9 p.m. at the Events Center.

The 90-minute event, with free admission, will feature Binghamton’s men’s and women’s basketball teams in their first official practices of the season. The madness will include a series of contests and raffles as well as performances by each of the Bearcat spirit squads and the Binghamton pep band.

The highlight of the night, however, will be the introduction of both Bearcat squads, with the women’s team competing in a three-point shooting contest followed by the men’s team competing in a slam dunk contest.

There was no madness last year, as the inaugural ‘Hoop Fest’ was offered instead. The fest featured children’s shootouts and was geared more towards the community. The University will still keep that festival, but it is going to be on a different date.

‘There was a huge student demand for it [Late Nite Madness] last year,’ said David Belsky, vice chair of the SA programming board. ‘All of the students in the SA and across campus are very excited to bring it back.’

The madness will also be the first chance to see new men’s basketball head coach Kevin Broadus on the Events Center floor.

‘I am excited we brought it back for the students,’ Broadus said. ‘It’s more for the students and community than for the team. We want to give back and have excitement to bring in the seniors. I want everyone to have fun.’

It will be the only chance fans will get to see the men’s basketball team before their home opener on Nov. 14 against Quinnipiac. There are no exhibition games this year against lower-tier teams like St. Rose and Mansfield.

‘We have a lot of stuff to put in our new system and the exhibitions are for show,’ Broadus said. ‘We are here to win games and to put in a new, good system. We don’t have time to goof around and play around before the season starts.’

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. at the Events Center.