Sept. 25, 2002

Amherst, Mass. -- The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team will host its annual Midnight Madness on Saturday, Oct. 26, in the Mullins Center. The highly-popular event, originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 11, was moved to avoid a conflict with the three-day Columbus Day holiday weekend.

Doors will open on Oct. 26th at 10:30 p.m., and admission is free to everyone. The program begins at 11 p.m. and will last until 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27th. This year's season-opening celebration will again be televised by WGGB-TV (Channel 40) in Springfield beginning at 11:35 p.m. The event will include interactive contests, great prizes and giveaways, and much, more.

For more information on Midnight Madness contact the UMass Athletic Ticket Office at (413) 545-0810 or 1-866-UMASS-TIX. More details and information will be released at a further date.

Coach Steve Lappas' Minutemen return three starters, and four other letterwinner's from last year's team. After a pair of exhibition games, UMass opens it 2002-03 campaign against 2002 NCAA runner-up Indiana in the first round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Season tickets for UMass' 16-game Mullins Center schedule are now on sale through the UMass Athletic Ticket Office, at a cost of $266.00 per ticket, which includes a 5 percent discount from the original price of $280.00 per ticket. Faculty and staff tickets are also on sale at a cost of $252.00 per ticket.

In addition to the discount, fans purchasing season tickets will receive passes to a special Season Ticketholders Appreciation Day, merchandise and concession discount coupons and a special team yearbook.

For more information on season tickets, contact the UMass Athletic Ticket Office or visit the UMass athletic website, www.umassathletics.com

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