SIUE Alumni Attend Cougars Game

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Published on February 5 2015 9:32 am
Last Updated on February 5 2015 9:32 am
Written by Millie Lange

Alumni and guests pictured are, current graduate assistant Christian Salecich (13-14), Dr. Janice Joplin, current assistant coach Ben Wierzba (98-99), Dave Starkey (74-78), Rick LaRose (73-75), Tom Dahncke (67-69), Aaron Dahncke, Effingham High School graduate Nathan Kreke (94-98), Jack McDole (67-70), Matt Fridley (92-94), Ryan Cross (98-00), and Rich Essington (68-71).

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- SIUE men's basketball enjoyed its largest crowd of the year for its Jan. 24 game against OVC foe Murray State. Among the crowd of 3,145 were more than 20 former Cougar basketball players.

Alumni joined the current team for their pregame meal, received tours of the upgraded Vadalabene Center, including the Cougar locker room, and joined the Cougars for the pregame talk before taking the floor against the Racers.

"It was great to have so many former players back," SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester said. "It's important for our current guys to stay connected to those players who laid the foundation."

Alumni and guests were Effingham High School graduate Nathan Kreke (94-98), Stewardson-Strasburg graduate Cody Rincker (09-11), Christian Salecich (13-14), Dr. Janice Joplin, Ben Wierzba (98-99), Dave Starkey (74-78), Rick LaRose (73-75), Tom Dahncke (67-69), Aaron Dahncke, Jack McDole (67-70), Matt Fridley (92-94), Ryan Cross (98-00), and Rich Essington (68-71), Nikola Bundalo (07-10), Dane Church (08-10), Gary Collins (67-69), Kris Crosby (03-05), John Edmison (07-09), Anthony Jones (04-08), JB Jones (04-08), Ron Jones (02-04), Stephen Jones (07-10), Mike Moore (67-69), Alex Newlin (09-11) and Derian Shaffer (11-13).

The Cougars return to the court Saturday for an Ohio Valley Conference matchup at UT Martin.