Worcester, MA --- The Worcester State basketball team will host their first-ever Coaches Versus Cancer Holiday Tournament next weekend on December 11th and 12th at the Lancer Gymnasium.

The Blue and Gold will face off against Colby-Sawyer in the first round at 5 PM before Elms and Buffalo State will do battle at 7 o'clock. The consolation game of the four-team competition will start at 12 PM with the championship contest starting at 2 PM.

Before the games on Friday evening, the Hilton Garden Inn will host a banquet which will feature guest speakers from the locally based 1540 Connection and a prominent sports figure from Central Massachusetts. The organization specializes in awareness for adults between the ages of 15 and 40 years of age to spread awareness that cancer is the #1 leading cause of death in the age bracket. Since 1975 improvements in survival rates have hovered close to zero percent.

All four squads have individually worked on their own fundraising for the tournament. During the Massachusetts State boys and girls soccer and field hockey tournament two weekends ago, the Lancers collected donations by asking patrons to sign their names on a special cards. The cards will be on display up on the walls of the gym throughout the duration of the tournament. Members of the men's team will also be doing the same kind of fundraising during Saturday's Super Bowls at Coughlin Field.

Local youth groups will also be participating as there will be four sets of honorary ball boys and ball girls during each contest.

For more information please contact head men's basketball coach Dave Lindberg if you would like to support the cause and donate. He can be reached at dlindberg@worcester.edu or at (508) 929-8593.

Coaches versus Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer. The program excellence of basketball coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities and advocacy programs.