Albany Tech to wrap up celebration with basketball season openers

ALBANY — As part of the college’s Homecoming week celebration, the Albany Technical College Titans will officially kick off the 2017-2018 basketball season and a decade of the sport against the Action Sports Academy Cougars at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Albany State University’s HPER Gymnasium.

This season, the Titans have just one returning player from last season. The Lady Titans have seven returning players, including two returning starters.

Earlier Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Titans will hold a special Tailgating Day for faculty, staff and students to enjoy prior to the evening game.

The event will feature an Albany State University Step Show, DJ Terrible T, a pep rally at 11:15 a.m., a special boot for alumni, the crowning of Mr. and Ms. Albany Technical College and a special performance by the Monroe Comprehensive High School Band.

The week kicked off on Monday with an Albany Technical College Foundation golf tournament themed “Celebrating a Decade of Titans.” Homecoming Week also included a Titans Challenge Day with a chili cook-off and wing-eating contest and a costume and pumpkin decorating contest on Tuesday.

An alumni and returning players’ friendly “Old School vs. New School” game was played at Albany State’s HPER Gym Saturday, during which players from previous seasons scrimmaged with current team players.

Albany Tech President Anthony Parker said the purpose of the week was twofold — to celebrate the 10th season of Titan basketball and to inject a homecoming feel to the week.