November 11, 2003
The Texas A&M men's basketball team opens its two-game exhibition schedule against Australia's Team ezybonds on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena.
Tickets are available at the Reed Arena Box Office, the Texas A&M Athletics Ticket Office, the MSC Box Office and at Foley's at Post Oak Mall. Tickets also can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com. A&M students are admitted free with a valid Athletics Sports Card that carries an All-Sports Option.
Fan Fun Packs also are available and include free hot dogs and soft drinks with the purchase of at least four tickets in the gallery level seats. This package includes a free parking pass when purchased in advance.
"Our players are excited to see how we match up against someone besides ourselves," A&M coach Melvin Watkins said. "This game will give us a better picture of where we are as a team right now. We know Team ezybonds likes to shoot the three-pointer and they are a very physical team. They played Temple very close, so we know this game will be a challenge for us."
Team ezybonds is 0-3 on its American tour, falling to Delaware (76-63), Temple (80-73) and New Mexico (107-75). The Australians made 11 three-pointers against Temple and 10 against New Mexico.
The Aggies are led by sophomore guard/forward Antoine Wright, an All-America candidate who was the Big 12 Conference's freshman of the year last season. A&M also boasts a six-man senior class, led by guards Leandro Garcia-Morales and Kevin Turner, center Andy Slocum and forwards Jesse King and Nick Anderson.
The game also marks the unofficial debut of freshmen forwards Marlon Pompey and Keith Blanks, guards Acie Law and Justin Loewe and junior college transfer guard Bobby Leach. Sophomore forward Luis Clemente, who sat out last season, also will make his first appearance.
The Aggies finished 14-14 last season and tied for seventh in the Big 12 with a 6-10 mark. A&M beat Team ezybonds, 96-78, two years ago at Reed Arena.
The Aggies play their final exhibition on Monday against the EA Sports All-Stars (7 p.m.), also at Reed Arena, before opening the regular season at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Monday, Nov. 24.
At each of the exhibition games, members of Aggie Athletes Involved will be on hand to collect donated blankets, coats, sweaters and jackets. Fans donating items, which benefit Twin City Mission, will receive a free ticket to any of the four men's and women's exhibition games. Fans interested in donating should look for the 12th Van parked outside the main entrance to Reed Arena from 5:30-7 p.m.
Aggie Athletes Involved is a community service organization comprised of Texas A&M student-athletes. The primary goals of AAI are to better the Bryan/College Station community through service projects and to build relationships among all Aggie student-athletes, regardless of sport.
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