By Suzanne Risley
The first home game for the Indiana State
University men's basketball team turned out to be a family affair
as families from throughout the Wabash Valley converged on Hulman
Center to take advantage of "Jam the Gym Night."
Parents and children filled the bleachers
Wednesday night while many ISU students were on their way home
for the Thanksgiving holiday. Many spectators attended as the
result of family packages sold specifically for the game, said
Cliff Lambert, Hulman Center director.
"Historically, the first home game has
been around Thanksgiving," he said, adding that it usually
falls on the Saturday after the holiday, enabling more students
to attend.
Lack of ISU students didn't dampen the enthusiasm
for the 6,252 who did make it to the home opener for the Sycamore
men, who played the Valparaiso Crusaders. Unfortunately, the
Sycamore faithful were disappointed by a 71-54 ISU loss.
Joy Jakaitis, 7, of Terre Haute, just wanted
to watch some ball. She literally bounced into the Hulman Center
concourse with father Jake Jakaitis beside her and a season ticket
in her hand. A basketball player herself, Joy hasn't missed an
ISU women's game in two years, her father said.
When tip-off came, Joy dragged her father
inside to watch her "favorite team."
Face painters Barb and Mel Mickelson of Fantasy
Faces saw their fair share of youngsters before and during the
game. For the second year, the couple had tables set up in the
concourse for anyone who wanted something Sycamore painted on
his or her face or head.
|
|
 |
| Tribune-Star/Joseph
C. Garza |
| We're open, pass us the sandwich:
Indiana State University basketball fans Tyler Schrohe (center)
and Daniel Card (right) try to convince an Indiana State cheerleader
to toss them a sandwich during a timeout at Wednesday's home
opener for the Sycamores men's basketball team in Hulman Center. |
"It was slow when the doors first opened,"
Barb Mickelson said. But, that soon changed, she added. The most
popular stencils of the night were the small Sycamore and ISU
logos, Sycamore Sam and hair painting, she said.
"This is better than last year,"
she said. Customers on Wednesday were mostly younger children,
she said. The ISU cheerleaders and band members came by before
the game to get made up as well, she said.
The first home game was also a first for Dean
Sanders, his son Justin Sanders and his father-in-law, Jerry
Batkiewicz.
Sanders recently moved to Terre Haute from
Dallas. Wednesday night was his first Sycamore outing.
"We decided to come check it out,"
he said as he prepared his hot dog by the concession stand, adding
he liked what he saw. "It's exciting."
|
