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Sports / Recreation

Legends Day set for Saturday

January 29, 2009

The Colorado State men's basketball program will pay tribute to its proud history with Legends Day on Saturday evening at Moby Arena. Nearly 50 former Rams will be honored at a special halftime ceremony at the CSU-San Diego State game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.

Former Rams to be honored

Headlining the event will be the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in school history, Pat Durham (photo at right), who finished his career with 1,980 points and 851 rebounds. He was a first-team All-WAC selection in both 1988 and 1989, as well as earning all-tournament team honors in both seasons.

Durham’s head coach during that time, Boyd Grant, will also be in attendance. In his four seasons in Fort Collins (1987-91), Grant compiled the highest winning percentage of any head coach in team history with an 81-46 (.638) record.

Legendary former coach and player

Coach Grant led the Rams to 23 wins and a third-place finish in the NIT in 1988, as well as helping the Rams capture their first-ever WAC title in 1989. He also led the Rams to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 1989 and 1990, including a first round win against Florida in the 1989 tournament. In addition, Grant was a player for the Rams from 1955-57 and is the only former player in CSU history to later serve as head coach. He also spent 10 seasons (1962-72) as an assistant coach for the Rams.

Other notables expected to be in attendance include:

• Bob Caton - Key performer on the 1969 team that advanced to the final eight of the NCAA tournament…now a successful high school coach
• Eric Friehauf – Helped lead the Rams to 76 wins in three seasons from 1987-90…now the color analyst for CSU men’s basketball
• Eddie Hughes - Four-year starter and letterman in the 1980’s who ranks seventh all-time in scoring in CSU history (1,360)
• Hal Kinard – Played at CSU with Grant and was a long-time educator…has a junior high named in his honor.
• Kay McFarland – Member of the CSU Hall of Fame
• Aki Palmer - Set the school record with nine three-pointers made in a game at Michigan in 2000
• Trent Shippen - Point guard on the 1989 team that won the WAC and beat Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament
• Joel Tribelhorn – Shot better than 50 percent from three-point range in 1989 and was among the national leaders in three-point percentage

All fans in attendance will have the opportunity to meet and greet the honorees following the game.

Saturday’s game is also a Kid’s Night game with children’s tickets for just $4 and postgame free throw shooting on the court.

Tickets for all CSU home games are available by calling 1-800/491-RAMS, or logging onto the ticket page on CSURams.com.

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Contact: John Manuszak
Phone: (970) 491-5067