The Canisius athletic department will celebrate one of the greatest three-year runs in men's basketball program history on Jan. 24, 2016, when the Golden Griffins play host to MAAC rival Siena in the Koessler Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
On that day, the College will pay tribute to the 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 men's basketball teams that earned a total of 62 victories, two berths into the NIT, including a run to the Final Four in 1995, the 1994 MAAC regular season championship and the 1996 MAAC Tournament title and an appearance in the 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Nearly every player and all of the coaches from that era of the men's basketball program will be in attendance, including former head coach John Beilein and Canisius Sports Hall of Famers Darrell Barley, Micheal Meeks, Javone “Bam” Moore and Craig Wise.
Fans will have the opportunity to attend a brunch with Coach Beilein, his former staff and the many former players on Jan. 24 at Science Hall from 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Cost is $25. There will also be an informal meet-and-greet with the staff and players from 12:45-1:45 p.m., in The Griffins' Den. Admission to the event in The Griffins' Den costs $10, which includes food and a cash bar.
Tickets for game are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com, at the Canisius Ticket Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by phone at (716) 888-TIXX. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the ticket office on game day. Tickets cost $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission.
“Over those three years, those young men won on the road and they won with the player of the year injured,” said Beilein, who was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 1994. “When I think back about those teams, they were truly special.”
For more information, contact Canisius associate athletic director John Maddock at (716) 888-2977. For media inquiries, contact assistant athletic director Matt Reitnour at (716) 888-8265.
Recap
The 1993-94 Canisius team posted a 22-7 overall record and a 12-2 mark in MAAC play en route to the program's only MAAC regular-season title. The 22 victories that season served as the program's first 20-win campaign in seven years and it helped the Blue and Gold earn a trip to the NIT. The Griffs won a school record 16 consecutive games.
The 1994-95 team started the season by upsetting Penn at the Palestra in the opening game of the Preseason NIT, ended a 52-year drought of losing at St. Bonaventure and rallied in the second half to stun No. 13 Cincinnati on the road. The squad posted 21 wins and 10 league victories, and the Griffs ended the season by advancing to the NIT semifinals in Madison Square Garden. Of the Griffs' 21 wins, 12 were won on the road. In addition to Penn, Cincinnati and St. Bonaventure, other “Road Kills” that season included the likes of Charlotte, Bradley and Georgia Southern.
The 1995-96 team went 17-12 overall with 10 MAAC wins. That quintet defeated Fairfield 52-46 in the 1996 MAAC Championship game in Albany, N.Y., the program's only MAAC Tournament championship. Canisius earned the MAAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, where the Griffs met Utah in the first round. That squad is known for its famous “Won for the Thumb” surge through the MAAC Tourney in recognition of losing conference player of the year Darrell Barley to a thumb injury late in the season.
Lineup - Coaches
• John Beilein, Head Coach – currently the head coach at Michigan
• Mike MacDonald, Assistant Coach – currently the head coach at Daemen
• Phil Seymore, Assistant Coach – currently the head coach at Fredonia
• Dave Niland, Assistant Coach – currently the head coach at Pitt-Bradford
• Kevin Broderick, Assistant Coach – currently the head coach at Nazareth
Lineup – Players
• Darrell Barley
• Greg Buntich
• Jamie Cammaert
• Ryan Collins
• Fred Dupree
• Mickey Frazier
• John Gorman
• Damone James
• Dana “Binky" Johnson
• Mark Kolbe
•Keith Lambkin
• Micheal Meeks
• Javone “Bam” Moore
• Chris Mucica
• Ryan Shepherd
• Kevin Thompson
• John Tuminaro
• Eric Wooten
• Kevin Worley
• Craig Wise
• Chris Young
Additional Comments from coach Beilein:
"My staff and I were truly blessed to be able to coach at Canisius and especially that group of student-athletes that matriculated from 1992-97. They played both hard and smart in both practice and games. That attitude allowed them to have success both on the road and during the adversity they faced in all three of those very successful seasons."
"I believe everyone of them graduated from Canisus as well, so when I think back about those teams, they were as special a group as I have ever coached. Kathleen and I are excited to return to Canisius and be with such a outstanding group of people again."
