Sports

First POWERade Intramural Invitational dazzles in San Antonio

A NIRSA, NCCS, POWERade, and CBS partnership

Todd Smith from POWERade (center left) and NIRSA Executive Director Kent J. Blumenthal (center right) congratulate the victorious University of Houston team.

POWERade’s sponsorship of the 2008 NCCS National Basketball Championships culminated with the first POWERade Intramural Invitational tournament in San Antonio, Texas April 4-6. Eight men’s basketball teams traveled to San Antonio to compete with teams from around the country. Games were played at Trinity University, the University of the Incarnate Word, and Hoop City in conjunction with the Men’s Final Four. The POWERade Invitational championship game was televised on the CBS Sports national television network along with previous tournament highlights. Tournament pictures and videos can be viewed at http://www.cbsintramurals.com/powerade.

The POWERade Intramural Invitational was an exciting, memorable and action-packed event. The tournament was a big success, not only for the players and student officials, but also for the growing relationship between POWERade, CBS, NIRSA and the NCCS. Over 80 players and coaches from the following institutions proudly represented their university at the tournament.

• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Trinity University
• Texas State University
• UCLA
• University of Houston
• University of Iowa
• University of North Texas
• The University of Texas at Austin

Results

Semifinals

University of North Texas v. University of Houston 38-48
Texas State-San Marcos v. The University of Texas at Austin 43-46

Championship

The University of Texas at Austin v. University of Houston 53-59

Both the University of North Texas and The University of Texas at Austin advanced out of their respective pools undefeated. Even though University of Houston came out of pool play with a 2-1 record and went into the championship game facing an undefeated team, they rose to the challenge and won the championship game.

The following students did a great job officiating the games:

Jansen Angima, The University of Texas at Austin
Robert Pullen, Texas State University
William Blevens, Texas State University
Paul Elkins, Texas A & M
Ross Askey, Texas A & M
Garrett Pisarik, Texas A & M
Jon Randle, University of North Texas
Bonnie Mitchell, Oklahoma State University
Colin Keirnan, The University of Texas at Austin
Aaron Mason, The University of Texas at San Antonio

The players listed below were named All-Tournament Team:

Marcus Richardson, Texas State-San Marcos
Obi Ezem, University of North Texas
Chris Pryor, University of Houston
Christopher Lane, The University of Texas at Austin
Blake Boren, The University of Texas at Austin

MVP: Bobby Vasighi, University of Houston

Thanks to POWERade, CBS Sports, and the following POWERade Intramural Invitational staff for their hard work, support, and patience over the last few months in order to put on a very successful event:

Jacob Tingle, Trinity University
Dan Hazlett, Georgia Tech
April Flint, Clemson University
Chad Ellsworth, Arizona State University
Lisa Hanson, DePaul University
Mirum Washington-White, The University of Arizona
Valerie McCutchan, NNC Staff
Diane Broyhill, NNC Staff

In addition, POWERade generously provided 10 tickets to the Men’s Final Four semifinals. Tickets were distributed to players based on how their team placed in the POWERade Invitational Hot Shot competition.