Bulls Face Canisius As Big 4 Basketball Classic Returns December 17
7/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Vote Here For Your Favorite Throwback Uniform
BUFFALO, NY - Representatives from Buffalo, Canisius, Niagara and St. Bonaventure announced today that the four Division I Western New York schools will once again take part in the Big 4 Basketball Classic on Saturday, Dec. 17 in First Niagara Center. The Niagara Purple Eagles host the St. Bonaventure Bonnies before the Canisius Golden Griffins square off against the Buffalo Bulls. The first game of the day tips off at 1 p.m.
This marks the fifth time all four Western New York schools have played in First Niagara Center in a doubleheader format. The four schools last played a true doubleheader in downtown Buffalo on Nov. 29, 2014. That edition of the Big 4 Basketball Classic was the first in the area in nearly 16 years.
Tickets for the Big 4 Basketball Classic are on sale now and are priced at $25, with a limited number of floor seats available for purchase for $35. 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.
In the 2014 edition of the Big 4 Basketball Classic, all four schools wore special Buffalo Braves-themed uniforms that featured the colors and logo of the city's former NBA franchise. As part of this year's event, all four schools will honor college basketball history by wearing special "throwback" uniforms, presented by ComDoc and Lawley Insurance. AdPro Sports, the official uniforms supplier for Buffalo, Canisius and Niagara, assisted with the design and will manufacture the uniforms worn by all four schools on Dec. 17.
As part of the throwback uniform program, fans will be able to vote on what each team will wear when they take to the court in the First Niagara Center. Starting today, fans can log on to UBBulls.com and vote for their uniform of choice. The winning designs will be introduced to the public in mid-September when all four schools meet for the annual Big 4 Basketball Media Day, which will be held at First Niagara Center.
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 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, Dec. 12, 1998 and then again Nov. 29, 2014.
About ComDoc
ComDoc was originally founded in Akron, Ohio by Walter G. Griffith on October 15th, 1955. The company was established as a business equipment sales/service organization. By 1957 the company outgrew its original 1,200 square foot location, opening offices in Canton and Youngstown, Ohio.
Product lines were expanded and by 1977 the company had expanded to Syracuse, New York. In 1980 the company opened offices in Buffalo, Erie and Pittsburgh and sales grew to $10 million with 171 employees, seven product groups and eight sales locations. In 1981 ComDoc's current name was coined, derived from the words "COMmunication" and "DOCumentation." By 1985 ComDoc's sales soared to $25 million and an employee stock ownership plan was implemented. This was the beginning of the employee owned era.
In February of 2009 ComDoc was purchased by Global Imaging Systems, a Xerox Company, in order to service and sell superior products within the industry that ComDoc has been noted as being one of the major leaders. The merger of ComDoc and Global Imaging Systems positions ComDoc to be at the forefront of their industry for many years to come by offering the same unique and award winning service combined with Xerox's product and technology innovation and Global Imaging Systems' streamlined approach to distribution. This marks a truly unique marriage of values, technology and proposition for ComDoc heading into the future.
About Lawley Insurance
Lawley is a privately-owned, independent regional insurance firm specializing in property, casualty and personal insurance, employee benefits and risk management consulting and ranked among the 100 Largest Insurance Brokers in the U.S., according to Business Insurance magazine.
For over 60 years, Lawley's team of more than 350 associates have developed customized property, casualty, surety and benefits insurance programs for businesses and municipalities of all sizes along with personalized protection for individuals and their families. Lawley is consistently recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by Buffalo Business First.
Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Lawley has branch offices across New York in Amherst, Batavia, Fredonia, Melville, Purchase and Rochester along with Darien, Connecticut and Florham Park, New Jersey. To find out more, visit lawleylnsurance.com.
