Sage Taps Trio as 2011-2012 Men's Basketball Captains

November 17, 2011

Sage Taps Trio as 2011-2012 Men's Basketball Captains

Albany, NY--- Sage’s men’s basketball team has announced the selection of the team captains for the 2011-2012 season. Seniors Ian and Dalton Austin-Michaud (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) and junior guard Jeff Stopera (Scotia, NY/Scotia Glenville) were chosen by their teammates to serve as the squad’s tri-captains.

Head coach Brian Barnes said of Jeff, "Jeff's our floor general." Barnes, added "he has a very good feel for the game and a tremendous work ethic. Jeff is a great example to our younger players and will continue to help show them the way."

Stopera, who served as a captain last season, is a three-year letterwinner and starter for Sage and now has 258 assists on his career after averaging a personal-best 7.3 ppg in 26 starts last season.

Dalton, the team’s Gator winner as the most valuable player a year ago, opened the new season with 17 points in the opener. He finished last season with six double-doubles and netted 232 points in 13 games in a Gator uniform after joining the program mid-year.

Barnes said of Dalton, "He plays with so much passion and enthusiasm it's contagious amongst his teammates." Barnes added, "he competes at such a high level that it raises the level of play of everyone around him."

Joined this season on the bench by his brother, Ian, is a former top scorer at Herkimer County Community College. He opened his Sage career with a team-leading 19 points. He hit 11 of his 17 free throws in his Sage debut and paced the team in his 37 minutes of service.

"Ian brings a great deal of successful basketball experience with him to Sage, " said Barnes. "His two years playing on championship caliber teams at both Hudson Valley Community College and Herkimer County Community College will help us out a great deal. Ian is a great teammate and the most important thing to him is the final score, added Barnes"

Sage, which opened the season earlier this week with an exciting 70-67 road win over MCLA, returns to action on November 18 and 19 at the Western New England University Tip-Off Tournament. The Gators open tournament play on Friday facing Trinity College (CT) at 6 p.m. Sage will host RPI on November 22 at 7 p.m. in the Kahl Center in the home opener.

A wide variety of activities will take place in conjunction with the home opener as Sage’s SAAC will be sponsoring a food drive. Sage’s student-athletes are asking for your help in making a difference in the Troy community! They have joined forces with the Troy Women’s Club to help the Roarke Food Pantry in Troy stock their shelves for the holidays.

For the rest of the fall semester, Sage’s student-athletes will be on hand at home athletic events to collect your non-perishable food items. If you are planning on attending a Gator event, please bring a donation. The center is need of unopened food items, especially soups and juices to assist with those in need of healthy food items. Sage’s teams will be on hand with collection boxes at upcoming contests as we assist the community with a need, especially leading up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

In addition, Sage’s SAAC will also be sponsoring a promotion in conjunction with the home contest as they will be giving out free Swamp t-shirts to the first 15 Sage students with IDs at the contest.