TONIGHT! Catch Concordia Stingers vs. ESPN-ranked Murray State Racers
Time to give those evening plans the boot: tonight, at 7 p.m., Concordia's men’s basketball team is taking on the Murray State Racers.
According to ESPN, the Kentucky-based Racers have developed one of the top 30 basketball programs in modern history. This Stingers exhibition game marks the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) team's only stop in Quebec.
“It’s early in the year for an exhibition game, but it gives us a two-month head start,” says Rastko Popovic, who was appointed head coach of Concordia men’s basketball program in April. “This way, we can figure out what we need to work on and younger players get experience playing a team of this calibre.”
What calibre is that? Well, the Murray State Racers compiled a win-loss record of 29-6 in 2014-2015, including a perfect 16-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Still, they were defeated by the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Sunday (85-57) before rebounding to a 63-59 win over the Carlton Ravens, the defending Canadian national champions, on Monday.
“Many American players can be big — 6’8”, 6’9”, 6’10”— and highly athletic, but that doesn’t mean we can’t compete,” says Popovic. “It means we have to play a smart game, match their athleticism and look to attack.”
Stingers captain Michael Fosu is in the lineup tonight, as well as veteran forward Ken Beaulieu and point guard Ricardo Monge, plus a new star recruit: Schneiders Suffrard, a forward from Vanier College.
Tonight, Montreal basketball fans will also get their first look at new Stingers forwards Jean-Daniel Mathieu, T.J. Umar, Kiari Gerba and transfer guard Jaleel Webb.
“I’m starting with five veterans because of their familiarity, but the young guys will definitely get to play,” says Popovic, who is currently with Team Quebec in Halifax at the National Championships. He looks forward to watching a recording of the game, and checking in with assistant coaches Damian Buckley and Dwight Walton later tonight.
Want to cheer on the Stingers tonight — August 5 — at 7 p.m.? Get your tickets at the door to the Loyola Gym, in the Athletics Complex on the Loyola Campus (7200 Sherbrooke St. W.). Entry costs $8 for adults and $5 for students/seniors.
This Saturday, August 8, Concordia's Department of Recreation and Athletics is also hosting a Stingers Community Day to celebrate the unveiling of its new field-and-logo combination.