Riverdragons to Open Preseason at Home

Riverdragons to Open Preseason at Home

- Fans Get First Look at 2002-03 Squad on November 9 -

COLUMBUS, GA., August 7, 2002 – The Columbus Riverdragons will open their 2002 NBDL preseason schedule against the NBDL's defending champion – the Greenville Groove – on Saturday, November 9 at the Columbus Civic Center. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

The Riverdragons complete their preseason on the road against the Asheville Altitude on Monday, November 11 at the Asheville Civic Center, with tip-off set for 7:15 p.m. League-wide each NBDL team will play two preseason games, one home and one away.

The preseason opener on November 9 will serve as a preview for the Riverdragons 2002-03 regular season opener slated for Friday, November 15 against the Groove to be held at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, South Carolina. The Riverdragons home opener is scheduled for Friday, November 22 when Columbus hosts the Roanoke Dazzle at the Columbus Civic Center.

The preseason opener will mark the Riverdragons' first meeting with the Groove since falling 79-78 in the third and deciding game of the NBDL semi-finals. The Groove, led by the hot-shooting of guard Jeff Myers, went on to sweep the N. Charleston Lowgators to claim the inaugural NBDL Championship.

Admission to the Riverdragons preseason match-up against the Groove is included in the Riverdragons season ticket packages. Individual tickets for the preseason game will also be available. For more information call the Riverdragons ticket office at (706) 225-1100.

Fans making a $50 deposit on season tickets prior to September 30, will receive a 15% discount on individual game ticket prices. Season ticket plans starts as low as $96. Riverdragons individual ticket prices are: $25, $16, $12, $8 and $5 for kids (12 and under).

The NBDL, the NBA's minor league includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), North Charleston Lowgators (S.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Mobile Revelers (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.), Greenville Groove (S.C.), and Asheville Altitude (N.C.). The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Eight NBDL players and one head coach were called up to the NBA during the NBDL's inaugural season and five executives have moved from NBDL teams to positions with major league organizations. Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the NBDL serves as a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 29 teams and as a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions in each NBDL city.

For more information on the NBDL, visit www.nbdl.com.