Midnight Madness on Thursday Night!

Meet the SAGU basketball, cheer teams

Free food, drinks, games, prizes! 11:45pm.

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  The ever-popular national craze that accompanies the start of the college basketball season, Midnight Madness, returns to the campus of Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Thursday night.

The hour long event will feature more energy than a Mt. Dew IV hook-up.

Three deejays will emcee the program, which will begin promptly at 11:45pm (CST). Doors to the Sheaffer Center will open at 11:30pm, though students usually pack the lobby in anticipation of the festivities.

According to Alicia Rogers, the Head Cheer Coach, the SAGU cheerleaders will again plan the itinerary, which includes a lot of free giveaways:

*Food from local restaurants

*Prizes to a limited number of fans

*Beverages from local restaurants

*Midnight Madness T-Shirts given randomly

The Assemblies of God Credit Union, who are one of several sponsors of the event, will supply the tee-shirts.

Fans are welcome to dress in their most creative purple and gold outfits – all in preparation for the upcoming season.

Adding to the spontaneous feel will be the SAGU Band live! Still and video cameras will be on hand to capture the adrenaline, the color and the ambiance.

Three teams will be introduced individually for fans; the men’s and women’s basketball teams as well the cheerleaders. The setting is perfect for getting a sneak peak this year’s teams.

During the Midnight Madness there will special cheer routines and interaction with the packed crowd.

The basketball teams will have a brief scrimmage, as well a three-point shooting and free throw contests.

The madness is never complete until the slam dunk competition is held. Pre-selected judges will appear at the scorer’s table, while fans will bring their own scorecards to rate the dunkers.

Interspersed through the event will be interactive games in which the audience can participate for prizes.

Also available for the first time will be the newly arrived SAGU Basketball fan shirts. Get yours while sizes last. They are gold with purple and white trim and this year’s team motto: “Believe,” on the back.

With the start of the regular season eight days for the Lady Lions and twelve days until the Lions, fans are getting ready. With the recent rise in the basketball programs at SAGU, large and/or packed crowds are the norm.

The Lady Lions are expected to compete strongly in the Red River Athletic Conference this winter after working through a rebuilding campaign last year. The Lions enjoyed the nation’s largest turnaround in 2011-12, going from 12 wins to 27. They were also ranked nationally by the NAIA.

Curfew passes will be given out at the end of the night for students who attend the event.

The night ends at 12:45am.

Jaroy Carpenter, SAGU’s Head Athletic Trainer, who is also known for his humor and lively personality, along with the vitality of Spencer Speed, will serve as the emcees of Midnight Madness.

Mark “Link” Warde, the Sports Information Director, will handle the courtside public address announcer role during team intros and the hoops contests.

Hours before the Midnight Madness, the SAGU volleyball team will play host Oklahoma’s Southern Nazarene University at 7:00pm. That match will be aired in HD by the SAGU Sports Live crew.

Basketball Early Schedule

Lady Lions

Nov. 2-3     @ SCU Classic (Bethany, Okla)
Nov. 2         University of the Sciences and Arts (Ok), 5pm
Nov. 3         Southwestern Christian University (Ok), 5pm

Nov. 9-10    SAGU Classic
Nov. 9          Dallas Christian College, 7:30pm
Nov. 10        Wayland Baptist University (Tx), 7:30pm

Lions

Nov. 6           Dallas Christian College, 7:30pm (Texas Snowstorm inside)
Nov. 12         @ Tarleton State University (exhibition)

Nov. 16-17    @ Sterling Classic (Kansas)
Nov. 16         Tabor College (Ks)
Nov. 17         Sterling College (Ks)

Nov. 24         Westmont College (Cal), 5:00pm (Nationally ranked opponent)