Mountaineer fans following the men’s basketball team to Buffalo for NCAA tournament games will have an opportunity to come together for a Pep Rally and several Meet and Greets hosted by the WVU Alumni Association.

“The Mountaineers have accomplished a great deal this year,” said Steve Douglas, president of the WVU Alumni Association. “Coach Huggins and our Big East Champion team deserve nothing less than to have an excited group of alumni, friends and fans behind them at HSBC Arena. We look forward to providing venues where loyal Mountaineers can come together during the weekend to support and celebrate these amazing coaches and players.”

Douglas will also be keeping Mountaineers posted on festivities in Buffalo through Twitter. You can follow him @WVUSteveDouglas.

Festivities will begin on Thursday, March 18, from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., with a Pep Rally at Average Joe’s (2350 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst, NY).

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature appearances by the Mountaineer, cheerleaders and WVU Pep Band. Fans attending the rally will have the opportunity to order food and beverages from Average Joe’s menu with a special Mountaineer discount.

On Friday, March 19, a Mountaineer Meet and Greet will take place starting three hours prior to tipoff (9:00 a.m.) at Thirsty Buffalo (555 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY).

The social, which is free and open to the public will feature a reasonably priced Buffalo foods buffet, beverage specials for WVU fans and great Mountaineer camaraderie. As an added service, Thirsty Buffalo is offering complimentary shuttle transportation from the Meet and Greet to HSBC Arena prior to and back after the game.

A similar Meet and Greet is planned three hours prior to tipoff on Sunday, March 21, should the Mountaineers advance to the second round of the tournament.

Fans in Buffalo without game tickets are encouraged to remain at Thirsty Buffalo for WVU Game Watches. Thirsty Buffalo has 14 plasma screen televisions and the broadcast of the game will be played on speakers throughout the establishment.

“I could not be more thrilled than to host fellow Mountaineers in my hometown,” said Bill Shaflucas, WVU alumnus and proprietor of Average Joe’s and Thirsty Buffalo. “I look forward to Average Joe’s and Thirsty Buffalo becoming the home away from home for Mountaineers in Buffalo throughout the weekend.”

Hundreds of WVU alumni and friends are expected to be on hand for the first round game versus the Morgan State Bears which is scheduled to tip off at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, March 19.

Should the Mountaineers advance, they will play the winner of the Clemson Tigers and Missouri Tigers on Sunday, March 21. Start time for Sunday’s game is TBA.

For more information about the WVU Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: Tara Curtis, WVU Alumni Association
304-293-0972; Tara.Curtis@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @wvutoday on Twitter.