By Anna Corbett-Neal, Opinion Editor
Newman's men's basketball team will start its preseason with a big exhibition game against Kansas State University on Oct. 31.
The game, which will be televised, will be played on Oct. 31— Halloween night — at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. It will be an exhibition game for both teams.
Newman Athletic Director Kenyon Spears said he hopes to take a few students to Manhattan to watch the game and support Newman’s team.
“We're planning to do some other fun stuff,” he said. “(We are) working with Res Life and Student Affairs to try to get some things happening on campus and different things… not just with basketball, but for all of our sports,” Spears said.
The last time Newman’s men’s team played Kansas State was in 2014, when the Wildcats defeated the Jets 83-56. The Jets were still in the Heartland Conference at the time.
Sam Somerhalder, a senior on the basketball team, said that he is excited to play on such a big stage.
“I think it's every kid or basketball player's dream to end up playing against a Division I in the Big 12, like Kansas State,” he said.
Playing a Division I school is a big challenge, Somerhalder said, but the Jets are ready for the game ahead.
“They're a really good team every year, but we go into every game thinking we have a chance and playing like we have a chance,” he said. “So we're going to go into it not expecting to lose and play our hardest.”
Tickets are for sale for the game at kstatesports.evenue.net. They range from $14 to $28.
Newman’s women’s basketball team also will face a Division 1 rival this season. It’s scheduled to play an exhibition game against Wichita State University at 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Koch Arena.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
