Home is where the hype is! The Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MACC) was packed with a sold-out crowd of 6,327 fans on January 21, when ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State Athletics unveiled a new βGameday Experienceβ as part of its rebranding launch.
New gameday activities and additions were revealed at the ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State menβs and womenβs basketball games against the University of Toledoβand the menβs team rolled to an 85-61 win over Toledo and the womenβs team beat them 70-60.
βWhen you have an unbelievable atmosphere like this, how can you not play as hard as you can?β says menβs basketball head coach Rob Senderoff.
Highlights from the games include:
1. STAND WITH KSU Prior to singing βThe Star-Spangled Banner,β student leaders and student groups circle the court and menβs basketball team members select fans from the crowd to stand with them in solidarity during the singingβa new tradition that began at the home-opener.
2. HYPE VIDEO After President Warren leads the crowd in a countdown, the new basketball βUnleashβ video plays on screens that drop from the ceiling in the middle of the court. The videoβs finale has fans shining the flashlights on their cellphones and chanting, βLetβs Go ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ!β
3. MACC MANIACS Spirited students rip open their outer yellow T-shirts to reveal blue βUnleashβ T-shirts just prior to tip-off of the menβs basketball game.
4. MACC LOBBY MAKEOVER As Golden Flash fans enter the MACC, they are greeted by cheerleaders, balloons and a brass band. Newly designed banners and lighting add to the festive feel.
5. MACC ENTRANCE MAKEOVER New exterior lighting and bold banners highlight the MACC as basketball fans head in.
6. WOMEN WIN ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State womenβs basketball guard Alexa Golden shoots a fadeaway jump shot in the game against the Toledo Rockets.
7. MEN WIN Senior forward Jimmy Hall ducks under a Toledo defender on his way to the basket and a game-best 27 points, pushing him into the list of ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ Stateβs top-10 scorers of all time.
View the hype video that played before the men's game: