The buzzer sounds at the strike of 8 p.m. Let the dancing, freestyling, hot dog-eating and Sumo-wrestling begin!

“Late Night with Kent State Basketball” was held in a packed M.A.C. Center Friday night as a preview to basketball season, with a late-night talk show twist.

Everyone cheered as both the men’s and women’s teams were introduced. DeAndre Haynes, No. 23, came out doing a back flip.

Radio announcer Tom Linder interviewed the head coaches. The teams also put together a “Top 10 things you didn’t know about men’s and women’s basketball” vignette, including information on the women’s team traveling to seven states and covering a distance of 16,000 miles this season.

“I think it’s a great event,” said Jonathan Bey, freshman integrated health studies major. “I’m excited about basketball season. The dunk contest was my favorite part.”

Many prizes were given throughout the night. One student won a $1,000 scholarship for shooting baskets. Freshman nursing major Sarah Lenox turned in an empty Coke bottle and got the winning raffle ticket to try and make baskets.

“I got a $1,000 scholarship, a $300 book scholarship, a hat and a T-shirt,” Lenox said. “It’s $1,000! I’m short of breath.”

Also highlighting the night were performances by the cheerleading squad, the dance team and the Golden Reflections dance team.

“We’ve been working 1 1/2 months,” said Michele Smith, freshman nursing major and member of the Golden Reflections team. “I think we did really good. We were pumped. We’re all excited about our first performance.”

The men’s basketball season starts Nov. 13 and the women’s season starts Nov. 6.

Contact on-campus entertainment reporter Olivia Mihalic at [email protected].