It's late November and that means it's time for Paradise Jam at UVI’s Sports and Fitness Center. Again this year, the UVI men's basketball squad will make its first appearance of the new season during a special Paradise Jam game. The Buccaneers will take on traditional LAI rivals Metropolitan University (UMET) in a matchup scheduled for 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. UVI Head Coach Ryan Skinner’s roster includes Chris Lockhart, Trevonte Larose, Salim Ross, Melvin Adams Jr., Colin Pfingst, Trevor Jones, Rodrique David, Jerrell Bellott, Dornel Weaver and Jestin Jameson. Assistant coaches are Burt Chesterfield and Brett Foster.
Tournament games in the men's contest begin Friday, Nov. 22, and conclude with an 11 p.m. championship game on Monday, Nov. 25. This year's teams are Northern Iowa, Loyala Marymount, Marist, Maryland, Providence, Vanderbilt, Morgan State and La Salle. Action continues in the women's tournament in two divisions, with matchups beginning Thursday, Nov. 28, and concluding on Saturday, Nov. 30. Playing in the tourney’s "Island Division" are Xavier, Duke, Central Michigan and Kansas. Teams playing in the "Reef Division" include Memphis, Texas, Texas A&M and Syracuse. Details – including men’s and women’s brackets, video from the 2013 press conference and ticket information – are available from the Paradise Jam website: http://www.paradisejam.com.
Tickets are available at the UVI Bookstore. Paradise Jam ticket prices, at the door, are: $5 for VI children and students - ages 5 to 18 - including UVI students with ID; $10 for VI Senior Citizens 65 or older; $15 for VI Adult Residents with local ID; and $35 for non-VI residents.