Clinton to Host First College Basketball Tournament in Two Decades
Casella Tipoff Classic Set for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Clinton Community College's Forrence Center
Clinton Community College is teaming up with Casella to host the inaugural Casella Tipoff Classic on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Forrence Center.
The four-team event will officially open the 2026-27 Cougar Basketball season and mark the first college basketball tournament hosted by Clinton in more than 20 years.
The two-day tournament will feature Clinton Community College, Vermont State University-Randolph, SUNY Ulster and Great Bay Community College.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, the tournament begins with Great Bay vs. SUNY Ulster at 1 p.m., followed by Vermont State University-Randolph vs. Clinton at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, the day begins with Vermont State University-Randolph vs. SUNY Ulster at noon, followed by Great Bay vs. Clinton at 2 p.m.
During Sunday's games, students in attendance will have a chance to participate in a special Casella-sponsored halftime promotion. Participants who make a half-court shot will win $250 toward bookstore purchases.
The Casella Tipoff Classic is free and open to the public. Parking is available near the Forrence Center, located on Clinton Point Drive.
New Season, New Faces, High Expectations
The Cougars enter the season welcoming 18 new student-athletes to the Clinton Community College family. Since arriving on campus in August, the team has worked to prepare for the upcoming season, building chemistry and laying the foundation for success both on and off the court.
The program is coming off a season in which sophomore Jeffrey Collin Weeks III earned Second Team All-Conference and Third Team All-Region honors. Weeks led the region in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 22.9 points and 14.8 rebounds per game. Nationally, he ranked seventh in scoring and second in rebounding, helping earn a full athletic scholarship to Wiley University in Marshall, Texas.
“Player development is important, but developing the whole student remains at the core of our mission here at Clinton,” said Head Coach Neil Epstein. “Our coaching staff takes a lot of pride in preparing players for success in the classroom, on the court and after graduation. With this talented group of new student-athletes, we're eager to see what this year's team can accomplish.”
Over the past two seasons, all eight sophomore student-athletes in the program graduated. In all, 10 players have graduated over the last three years.
During that same period, the Cougars have helped place 13 student-athletes at four-year institutions while also advancing one player to the American Basketball Association.
Opening Season at Home
“There is nothing like a full Forrence Center,” said Epstein. “We'd love to see this place packed and loud all weekend. Our players have worked hard throughout the offseason, and opening the season at home is a great reward for them.”
Following the Casella Tipoff Classic, the Cougars face an early-season test, playing six consecutive games away from Plattsburgh before returning home on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to host Hudson Valley Community College at 6 p.m.