Aug. 27, 2008

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois announced today that less than a week into the public sale, 10,000 tickets have been sold to A Night of Legends alumni basketball game, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Assembly Hall.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online or through the UI Athletics Ticket Office by phone (217-333-3470 or 1-866-ILLINI-1) or in person at the Assembly Hall North Box Office. Tickets are $15 each.

"Reaching the 10,000 mark in attendance so quickly for this event shows there is great anticipation from our fans in having the opportunity to welcome back some of their all-time favorites to Assembly Hall," head coach Bruce Weber said. "We'll have players from two of the most beloved teams in school history on hand in the '89 and '05 Final Four teams, along with many other Illini greats from recent Big Ten championship teams, making for a memorable evening."

Many former Fighting Illini standouts have committed to the event, led by NBA star Deron Williams, who just won a gold medal with Team USA at the Beijing Summer Olympics. Dee Brown, Luther Head and Roger Powell Jr. will reunite with Williams at The Hall that evening while James Augustine also plans to attend.

In addition to the 2005 squad, another Illinois team that advanced to the Final Four will be on hand that evening. Members of the popular 1989 Flying Illini who have confirmed their attendance include Kendall Gill, Kenny Battle and Stephen Bardo while Larry Smith also plans to attend. Other Illini greats who have committed to the event include NBA veteran Brian Cook, Frank Williams, Sergio McClain, Lucas Johnson, Marcus Griffin, Victor Chukwudebe, Kiwane Garris, Jerry Hester, Kevin Turner and Jarrod Gee. In addition, former players and current Illinois basketball staff members Jerrance Howard and Sean Harrington will participate.

Along with the alumni game, Illinois is honoring the most decorated basketball players in school history by hanging jerseys from the rafters of the Assembly Hall. The 20 men's jerseys will be unveiled for the first time at this event. The University has already announced that the jerseys of Deron Williams (2003-05), Dee Brown (2003-06), Luther Head (2002-05), Ray Woods (1915-17), Chuck Carney (1920-22), Bill Hapac (1938-40), Dike Eddleman (1947-49), Walt Kirk (1944-45, 1947), Bruce Douglas (1983-86), Jim Dawson (1965-67) and Jerry Colangelo (1960-62) are among this group. The additional names will be announced leading up to A Night of Legends.