Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
GAME NOTES: MARYVILLE VS BREVARD
BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College Tornados Men's Basketball team, in conjunction with The Jimmy Griffin Foundation and the American Heart Association's Heart Health Awareness Month, are set to host its fifth annual "Red Out" game in memory and support of Jimmy Griffin's legacy.
Students, fans, faculty, and staff are encouraged to wear the color red to "Red Out" the Boshamer Gymnasium on Wednesday night to honor the legacy of Jimmy Griffin as the Tornados host Maryville for their last home contest of the 2018-19 season. Students wearing red will be eligible for ten BC Radar bonus rewards points on the BC Radar app.
Griffin was a teammate of Associate Head Coach Kaylin Johnson at Samford University and played under current Brevard Head Coach Lee Burgess during his time as the Samford Assistant Coach.
Griffin passed away in his sleep in September of 2009 from an undetected heart condition. His death shocked the Samford community and left a lasting impact on Burgess and Johnson.
In 2010, both Burgess and Johnson took part in the first "Red Out" game at Samford, as the Bulldogs hosted Elon. Samford raised $2,200 for the American Heart Association and played in front of the second-largest crowd in program history.
The Griffin Family is determined that Jimmy's life and legacy will never be forgotten. Therefore, they have set up The Jimmy Griffin Legacy Foundation which has benefited and will continue to benefit places Jimmy so loved including St. Bede Church and School, Marist High School, Mother McAuley High School, and Samford University. It will also benefit the American Heart Association.
Over the last seven years, the Foundation netted over $272,000, which was distributed in tuition scholarships, purchases, and upgrades to the church and schools he attended.
"Jim was a great teammate," commented Coach Burgess on Jimmy Griffin. "We are honored to carry on his legacy by playing this game. Jim had a very selfless, and competitive spirit that embodies some of the characteristics that I want our players to have here at Brevard."
Preview: Brevard vs Maryville
The BC Tornados play host to Maryville College at the Boshamer Gymnasium on Wednesday night, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. The battle marks Brevard's last home game of 2018-19,
Maryville, who will defend their 2018 USA South Tournament Championship trophy next week at the 2019 USA South Men's Basketball Tournament, is in the final weeks of legendary Head Coach Randy Lambert's 39-year tenure at the helm of Scots Basketball.
Lambert has amassed over 700 wins in his storied career on the sidelines at Maryville, including an impressive 34 winning seasons. Coach Lambert has claimed 13 conference championships and 19 NCAA tournament appearances. Not only did his Fighting Scots get to the NCAA post-season, but they advanced earning three "Sweet Sixteen" appearances and one "Elite Eight" matchup during his tenure.
Brevard, led by a USA South top-10 leading scorer in Levi Lamb (15.8 points-per-game), will be looking for a repeat performance of 2017-18 at home against the Scots. Brevard upset the eventual USA South champions by a final of 79-78 on January 18, 2018, as Lamb hit two big free throws late and assisted on the game-winning bucket that lifted Brevard past Maryville in a thriller.
The Tornados close their 2018-19 campaign on the road against Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. on Saturday, February 16 at 3 p.m. ET.
To follow along with all the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, please follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados'' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook.
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