Wooster Hosting Kent State Saturday Night in Special Exhibition Hoops Game

Two of Ohio’s top men’s basketball programs to raise money for Corey John Cline Fund

WOOSTER, Ohio – A special exhibition men’s basketball game will take place this Saturday night, Nov. 7, at Timken Gymnasium, as The College of Wooster is hosting NCAA Div. I Kent State University in an exhibition, in which all of the proceeds will go to the Corey John Cline Fund.

“We tremendously appreciate this outstanding gesture by coach Geno Ford and his staff to play at Wooster. It’s almost unheard of for a Div. I team to go on the road and play at Div. III, or for that matter, even Div. II,” commented the Fighting Scots’ veteran coach, Steve Moore.

Since it’s highly unusual for a Div. I to play at a Div. III school, a waiver is required by the NCAA, and that waiver, as expected, was granted this past Friday. Regular admission prices – $6 for adults and $4 for children – will be charged. While College of Wooster students, faculty, and staff are admitted free during the regular season, the student rate will be $1 and the faculty/staff rate $6 for this worthy cause. Tickets will be sold at Wooster’s Physical Education Center on Friday between noon and 1 p.m. and also between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The doors will open and ticket sales will begin at 5 p.m., on Saturday.

Corey Cline, the three-year old son of Wooster assistant coach Doug Cline, died in a tragic accident this past February. The fund was set up through the Wayne County Community Foundation “to celebrate his short and loving life” and will be used for charitable purposes for children.

“To have an opportunity like this to honor Corey, it means so much,” Cline said. “Corey lived a short life, but a good life. (This) is going to help kids in our community who (aren’t) as fortunate as Corey was.”

He also stated, “On behalf of Lauren, JJ, and the rest of our family, I’d like to thank the College community and the Wooster community for everything they’ve done for us in this really difficult time. They’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty … we can’t thank them enough.”

As for the game itself, it will be a match-up between two of the top NCAA programs in the state of Ohio, regardless of division. The Scots are the NCAA’s winningest team of the 2000s with a 255-45 record (.850) and enter 2009-10 ranked No. 9 nationally in the D3hoops.com top-25 preseason poll, while Kent State was one of seven Div. I teams to record 10 consecutive 20-win seasons from 1998-2008 and fell just one victory short (19-15) of extending that steak a year ago. Opening tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

“Without a doubt, Kent State is the best team Wooster has ever hosted in Timken Gym,” Moore noted. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our team and our fans.”