Published: October 10, 2007 11:52 pm         

Tickets for WVU-MSU exhibition game now on sale

Mountain State coach Bob Bolen says he hasn’t given much thought to the Cougars’ impending trip to Morgantown and a scrimmage against the NIT champion West Virginia Mountaineers.

But he has heard a lot about it.

“I’ve had people say that it’s great getting an opportunity to play them,” Bolen said. “And I’ve heard other people say, ‘what are you doing going up against them?’ I’ve heard just about everything.”

Mountain State is now selling the rest of about 400 tickets at the college bookstore for the Nov. 10 exhibition, which tips off at 7 p.m. at the WVU Coliseum. The general admission tickets are $10 each. Also, fans can call Jennifer McMillion at 929-1304 for information on chartered buses to the game.

The game will mark to first game for new WVU coach Bob Huggins.

“I’m sure it’s exciting for people who have followed Cougar basketball,” Bolen said. “It’s exciting to go up against WVU, who everybody in the state cheers for. But from a coaching standpoint, I haven’t taken any time to think about it. We have a game on Oct. 27. So I’m concerning myself with Ohio Valley and what we can do to get better.”

MSU does have three regular-season games (Ohio Valley, West Virginia Wesleyan and Cumberland) as well as a Division I exhibition at Morehead State (Nov. 1) prior to the WVU exhibition.

MSU is coming off a 27-6 record last year and returns point guard Jarvis Jackson, guard Ralph Legg, shooter Adron Marshall and forward Tyrice Watkins.

Bolen is 11 wins from his 350th career victory.

So why WVU?

“It’s a chance for our players to be able to play in that type of stage — a big crowd, a hostile environment, against the pressure defense that coach Huggins is going to bring out there,” Bolen said. “You don’t turn down those opportunities.”

Of course, Bolen knows his team isn’t supposed to win.

“We know what we’re up against,” the coach of the 2004 NAIA national championship team said. “The defending NIT champions, with four starters back and Bob Huggins on the sideline. Our goal is to win the NAIA national championship, and playing a really good Big East team on the road is going to help us become a better team. It can only help. Besides, we’re going to have the same record we went in with when we come home.”

That’s one reason he appreciates the opportunity.

“I’m real appreciative of coach Huggins giving us the chance to go up there and play a game,” Bolen said. “He probably could have had his choice of teams he could have brought in, but he had enough respect for us to give us the shot. That is a big compliment for our program and university and I appreciate it, coming from a great, great coach like coach Huggins.”

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demorrison@register-herald.com