310 students line up for extravaganza tickets

By Joshua D.Scroggin

Dennis Lewis has never been to a Fresno State basketball game.

But after a three-and-a-half-hour wait outside the University Student Union, Lewis was the first of about 310 students to receive a ticket to christen the all-new student section at Wednesday’s basketball extravaganza in the Save Mart Center—leaving nearly 1,700 student tickets unclaimed.

“ They did such a good job last year that I figured that I had to support the team this year as much as I can,” said Lewis, who arrived at 9:30 a.m. “Plus, I haven’t seen the new Save Mart Center yet, and I definitely want to take a look at that.”

Lewis said he and another student were the only two in line until about 11 a.m. By the time the line started moving shortly after 1 p.m., there were 115 people in a line wrapping around the USU building and stretching to McLane Hall.

USU Director Diane Milutinovich said slightly less than 300 tickets were distributed Friday—enough to fill up sections 111 and 121.

“ I think it’s because it’s a scrimmage game and not a real game,” Milutinovich said about the low number of students compared to tickets. “I look for Dec. 5 and 6 to be the real test.”

Dec. 5 will be the opening night of the McCaffrey Classic, the first Bulldogs home game of the season.

Fresno State will host two exhibitions before the home opener. And Lewis said he’d be first in line to grab those tickets too.

“ I will be here because I don’t have class in the morning and I don’t work on Friday,” Lewis said. “So I will be here every Friday.”

Lewis said he chose to start the ticket line because a friend read a story in The Collegian, saying tickets would be available, and told him to go.

“ A friend told me about it [Thursday],” said Lewis. “I don’t have class, and I just thought it would be a good opportunity to do a little bit of homework while I wait.”

Students will be able to pick up tickets all day today, and will be able to purchase a guest ticket for full price beginning Tuesday, said Milutinovich, who said more than 4,000 fliers were passed out advertising the ticket giveaway.

Full-price tickets for the basketball extravaganza are $5. Regular season tickets are $22.

After 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, all unsold student tickets will be returned to the SMC box office. One hundred of those will be reserved for students to claim for free, but after those 100 are given out, tickets must be purchased at full price.

Student-ticket information and schedules can be found online at www.csufresno.edu/USU/tickets1.htm.