MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny College will host the fifth annual Greg Richards '08 Memorial Classic Nov. 18-19 at the David V. Wise Center.
 
The two-day, eight-team event is named in honor of Greg Richards, a 2008 Allegheny graduate and four-year men's basketball letterwinner who succumbed to cancer Feb. 21, 2012.
 
"The Richards Classic is an event that we all look forward to each year," said Allegheny Director of Athletics Portia Hoeg.  "Greg was a beloved athlete, student, and friend, and we are honored to be able to play a part in carrying on his legacy.  This annual event is made even more special by the return of Greg's family, friends, and teammates."
 
Eight games will be played over the two days, as men's teams from New Paltz, Earlham, and D'Youville will join the Gators, while the Allegheny women will welcome Adrian, Oswego, and Grove City.

Throughout the weekend, donations will be accepted and all ticket proceeds will go to the Meadville Medical Center's Yolanda Barco Oncology Institute, a state-of-the-art facility that provides cutting-edge medical care, as well as physical, psychological, and social support for those afflicted with cancer.
 
In addition to playing in honor of Greg, this year's Classic will also be dedicated to veteran Allegheny College head volleyball coach Bridget Sheehan, who was forced to take a leave of absence for the 2016 season in order to battle cancer.
 
"We are extremely happy to be a part of keeping Greg's memory alive and celebrating his life with his family and friends," said Allegheny men's basketball coach Bob Simmons.  "It is a great honor to be able to donate the proceeds from the Greg Richards Classic to the Barco Oncology Institute on behalf of Greg and Bridget."
 
"The women's basketball team is looking forward to kicking off the season with the Great Richards Classic," added Gator women's head coach Kate Costanzo.  "We are honored to both be playing for Greg and battling for Bridget in the same weekend."
 
The weekend's action begins on Fri. Nov. 18 at 1 p.m., with the Grove City women facing off against Oswego, while the 3 p.m. game pits the men's squads from Earlham and D'Youville.  The Gator women take on Adrian on Friday at 5 p.m. and Oswego on Saturday at 3 p.m., while the Allegheny men play New Paltz on Friday at 7 p.m., and Earlham on Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
Tickets for the 2016 Greg Richards '08 Memorial Classic are $5 per game for adults and $3 for non-Allegheny students.  They can be purchased at the door.

2016 Greg Richards '08 Memorial Classic Schedule

Friday, November 18
1:00 p.m.	Women - Grove City vs. Oswego
3:00 p.m.	Men - D'Youville vs. Earlham
5:00 p.m.	Women - Allegheny vs. Adrian
7:00 p.m.	Men - Allegheny vs. New Paltz
Saturday, November 19
11:00 a.m.	Women - Grove City vs. Adrian
1:00 p.m.	Men: New Paltz vs. D'Youville
3:00 p.m.	Women: Allegheny vs. Oswego
5:00 p.m.	Men: Allegheny vs. Earlham