COLUMBUS, Ga. | Columbus State University Athletics will celebrate Halloween and tip off basketball season with Cougar Madness BOOsketball on Monday, Oct. 26, inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center. 

Centered on the Columbus State Men's and Women's Basketball programs, the event will combine basketball, Halloween activities, and family-friendly entertainment while giving fans their first look at the Cougars ahead of the upcoming season. 

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with music, a Halloween-themed photo booth, and opportunities for fans to take pictures with Cody Cougar. The on-court basketball festivities will feature a cheer performance and introductions of both basketball teams and their coaching staffs. 

Fans will then get an early look at the Cougars' skills through several competitions, including a mixed men's and women's 3-point shootout, a dunk contest, and a free throw showdown between men's basketball head coach Robert Moore and women's basketball head coach Matt Houser. 

The action will not be limited to the teams, as fans will have opportunities to participate in a dizzy bat layup competition and a half-court shooting contest for the chance to win a television.  

Guests are encouraged to arrive in their best Halloween attire, with separate costume contests planned for kids 12 and younger and Cougar fans 13 and up. Costume contest winners will also have the opportunity to help judge the dunk contest alongside a panel of special guests. 

Be sure to bring your candy bucket of choice as the event will feature trick-or-treating and inflatables on the Lumpkin Center's upper courts. Guests can trick-or-treat at booths hosted by CSU athletic teams and student organizations. 

Community youth, families, CSU students, and alumni are invited to attend Cougar Madness BOOsketball. Join the Cougars for a night of hoops, treats, and Halloween fun that is sure to be a graveyard smash!