Opening night

 

The warm heat of the building is a nice greeting for people coming in from the frigid temperatures outside. People decked in scarves, hats, gloves, coats, and boots, make their way past the ticket booth toward the arena.

Two teams occupy the gymnasium floor, bouncing basketballs, and practice shooting from various places on the floor.

Large groups of students pile into the stands, followed by community members, filling a third of the maroon seats.

This is the first home game played in the newly-opened Chicoine Events Center, which is connected to the south end of Armstrong on the southeast side of campus.

Unlike other games played in Armstrong, the lights are shut off and a spot light is focused on the CSC men’s basketball team.

Red-colored smoke emits into the air as the announcer calls out CSC’s starters. Pump-up music and the cheering crowd echoes throughout the gym as each player walks on to the floor.

After the starters are announced, the lights come back on, and the players take their positions.

A sense of anticipation and excitement rustled through the crowd as they waited  for the game to begin.

Ball in hand, the referee moves to the middle of the floor, places the basketball in the middle of the two players standing above the Eagle logo, and throws it up in the air.

Four hands fly up in the air, hoping to get to the ball first; CSC’s center Michael Safer, senior of Elizabeth, Colorado, tips the ball to Chadron. The game has begun.