Aug. 9, 2001

Anaconda Sports Inc., a leading manufacturer of sporting goods equipment, and the Patriot League have renewed its long-standing partnership, making the Anaconda Soft Rock the "Official Basketball" of the Patriot League Men's and Women's Basketball regular-season and Championship Tournament through 2004.

The original agreement between the Patriot League and Anaconda was signed in 2000. The new partnership designates the Anaconda Soft Rock as the "Official Ball of the Patriot League."

Additional components of the partnership include print and electronic advertising, signage at each tournament game and merchandise for the Patriot League. The 2002 Patriot League Men's and Women's Basketball Championship Tournament will be held March 1-3, 2002 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.

This marks the first time the League's tournament has gone to a neutral site for the early round championship games. The Women's Final (March 6 - Patriot League TV) and Men's Final (March 8 - ESPN) will be played on the highest remaining seeded team's home court.

Patriot League basketball League play opens Jan. 9, 2002 with the Navy men playing at Holy Cross - a repeat of the 2001 championship game. The Holy Cross women will host Navy on Jan. 8. Other League match-ups on Jan. 9 include Colgate hosting new Patriot League member American, Army hosting Lehigh, and Bucknell hosting Lafayette.

The Patriot League, which was founded on the principles of admitting athletes who are academically representative of their class, is in its second decade of academic and athletic excellence. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education. The Patriot League, which began as a successful Division I-AA football conference in 1986, includes American, Army, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy as full members and seven associate members each for one sport. These institutions are among the oldest and most prestigious in the nation and contributed alumni that have played leadership roles in the shaping of our country. In the most recent NCAA Graduation Rate Report of student-athletes, the Patriot League ranked FIRST among NCAA Division I conferences. Lehigh led the nation in student-athlete graduation rate, while Colgate was fifth and Bucknell was 10th overall in Division I.