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Riverdragons to Play 13 of 25 Home Games on Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays

July 10, 2002 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, GA., July 10, 2002 – The Columbus Riverdragons will tip off their second season in the National Basketball Development League on Friday, November 15 at 7 p.m. against the defending NBDL Champion Greenville Groove at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, S.C., the team announced today with the release of their 2002-03 NBDL regular season schedule.

Following a three-game road trip to start the regular season, the Riverdragons' 2002-03 home opener will be held on Friday, November 22 at 7 p.m. against the Roanoke Dazzle at the Columbus Civic Center.

The Riverdragons will play 13 of their 25 regular season home games on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays, including: Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24); Martin Luther King Day (Monday, January 20); and President's Day (Monday, February 17). Last season, the Riverdragons drew a season-high 3,541 fans on Martin Luther King Day and a second-best 3,421 fans on Christmas Eve.

"Establishing a home court advantage will be on the top of my list this season," said Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. "I am going to emphasize to our guys early on the importance of making the Civic Center our house by being prepared to play at home every night."

The Riverdragons regular season finale is slated for Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. against the Fayetteville Patriots at the Civic Center. Last season, the Riverdragons swept the season series from the Patriots, taking all six meetings.

The Riverdragons will play 50 regular season games during the 2002-03 season, six less than the league's inaugural season. The NBDL has reduced its schedule from 56 games to 50 games in order to provide coaches more time to work with players in practice during the course of the season.

The Riverdragons will also play two preseason games – one home and one away – with details to be announced at a later date.

Last season, the Riverdragons qualified for the NBDL Playoffs finishing the regular season in third place with a 31-25 (.553) overall record, six games behind N. Charleston and Greenville – who tied for first place. Along with the Lowgators, the Riverdragons were one of only two teams to remain qualified for the playoffs the entire season. The Riverdragons made their playoff push without the team's leading scorer Tremaine Fowlkes, who was called up by the Los Angeles Clippers with 14 games to play in the 2001-02 NBDL regular season.

The 2002-03 season opener at Greenville will be the Riverdragons' first meeting with the Groove since falling 79-78 in the third and deciding game of the NBDL Semifinals. The Groove, led by the hot shooting of Billy Thomas, went on to sweep N. Charleston and claim the inaugural NBDL Championship.

Riverdragons season tickets are now available by calling the Riverdragons ticket office at (706) 225-1104. 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 $104. Riverdragons individual ticket prices are: $25, $16, $12, $8 and $5 for kids (12 and under). Season ticket holder benefits include: admission to the preseason game; a pre-game shoot-around with the players; an enhanced hospitality area courtside; and the 6th Man Playoff Passport – good for admission to all home playoff games.

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