MCC News
Fri, Dec 11, 2009 - [Men's Basketball]

Grace College's men's basketball team will host the Terry Polston Hoops for Hope Tournament on Friday and Saturday in honor of Polston, a longtime Warsaw, Ind.,D.A.R.E. officer who lost his battle with cancer a year ago.

"This year's tournament is dedicated to a special friend of our campus who God chose to call home a year ago, Terry Polston," said head coach Jim Kessler."His legacy is that we can fight just as he did for many years."

All proceeds from admission will be donated to the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund to help families fight the cost of cancer treatment as well as for research. Every one attending, including all players, coaches, faculty, students and fans, are asked to donate $5 for one or all of the games.

 
The two-day tournament features some of the top teams in the nation, including Robert Morris University (Ill.), Columbia College (Mo.), Cornerstone University (Mich.) and Grace. Both No. 1 Robert Morris and No. 19 Columbia are ranked in the NAIA Div. I preseason poll.
   
Grace will square off against Cornerstone at 8 p.m. on Friday. Cornerstone is ranked No. 14 in the latest NAIA Div. II poll, and they defeated the Lancers twice last season. If the Lancers win on Friday night, they will play in the championship game on Saturday at 3 p.m. against either Robert Morris or Columbia. The consolation game on Saturday starts at 1 p.m.
   
"We are thankful for the opportunity as an athletic department to help support cancer awareness in Kosciusko County," said Athletic Director Chad Briscoe.
   
The Warsaw Morning Optimist Club and the Holiday Inn Express of Warsaw are the official sponsors of the tournament along with a number of local businesses and individuals.
   
"I believe if everyone is willing to do a little," Kessler continued, "we can end up with a generous gift for those in need."