Women's Basketball | 1/12/2010 10:11:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY -- It's time again for Dr. Destler's Orange Hair Challenge! This year's challenge will take place this Friday, Jan. 22, when the men's and women's basketball teams host Hartwick College in a pair key Empire match-ups.  The women's game kicks off at 6 p.m., while the men play at 8 p.m.  Come out and make this an event to "dye" for.

For those of you that don't know, the Orange Hair Challenge was started in 2008 by Dr. Destler, who is a HUGE basketball fan, to try and get more fans at home basketball games.

Now in its third season, the challenge is if RIT students and fans completely fill the bleachers at Clark Gymnasium for the men and women's basketball games, Dr. Destler will dye his hair orange at half time of the men's game.

The first year versus Ithaca was a rousing success! The fans came out in full force. By halftime of the women's game the stands were half full, by the start of the men's game the place was close to capacity. The students were raucous and loud led by the chants of the men's lacrosse team.

I was at court-side and couldn't remember seeing that many fans in the stands for a RIT basketball game. The day was a success right up to the point when a Bomber drained a three-pointer with time running out to sink RIT.

But it wasn't quite enough for Dr. Destler to dye his whole head. He compromised and dyed half his head for the fans.

Last year wasn't quite as good of a turnout. The challenge was held on a Sunday and didn't quite get the fan support Dr. Destler was looking for, so no dye job.

The men's game did not disappoint as #Nate Korinchak (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville)# nailed a half-court shot at the buzzer with the game tied, repaying Ithaca for the previous year's loss.

T-shirts will be handed out by the event sponsor, RIT's Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Come cheer on the Tigers and make Dr. Destler dye his hair orange!