Bulls Face Canisius In Big 4 Basketball Classic On Nov. 29
7/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – Representatives from the University at Buffalo, Canisius, Niagara and St. Bonaventure announced today that the four Division I Western New York schools will all take part in the Big 4 Basketball Classic on Saturday, Nov. 29 at the First Niagara Center. Niagara will play host to St. Bonaventure in the first game of the hoops twinbill at 2 p.m., followed by Canisius hosting Buffalo at 4:15 p.m.
This will mark the fourth time all four Western New York schools have played in the First Niagara Center in a doubleheader format, and it will be the first true Big 4 doubleheader since Dec. 12, 1998 – a span of nearly 16 years.
Tickets for the Big 4 Basketball Classic start at $20, with floor seats costing $30. One ticket is good for both games. Fans can purchase tickets through Tickets.com, at the First Niagara Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., or charge by phone at 1-888-223-6000.
The first Big 4 basketball doubleheader was played in downtown Buffalo on Nov. 30, 1996, when 12,508 fans saw Niagara play Buffalo and Canisius take on St. Bonaventure in the nightcap. That attendance number ranks second-best on the First Niagara Center's all-time basketball regular season attendance list. The four Western New York programs also played in a doubleheader format on Nov. 29, 1997 and then again Dec. 12, 1998. Since the building opened, Canisius has played a total of 45 games on the hardwood at First Niagara Center, with Niagara having played 24 games in the facility. St. Bonaventure has played in downtown Buffalo seven times in its history, while Buffalo will be playing in First Niagara Center for the sixth time since 1996-97.
