Aggies To Celebrate 100 Years Of Men's Basketball

Feb. 16, 2011

DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis men's basketball program will celebrate its 100-year anniversary on Saturday when head coach Gary Stewart and the Athletics Department holds a postgame reception following the Aggies' ESPNU BracketBusters' game against Hawai'i that begins at 2 p.m. at The Pavilion.

The reception is part of a day of celebration for a basketball program that has enjoyed a rich tradition starting a century ago. The Aggies played their first games in 1910-11, posting a 2-4 record under Howard Phillips. The program grew through the next several decades, earning its first bid to the NCAA postseason - and its first-ever 20-win season - in 1966-67 under Joe Carlson.

The legendary Bob Hamilton, for whom the playing floor at The Pavilion is named, followed by winning a school-record 301 games over 22 seasons before Bob Williams led the Aggies to their pinnacle - the 1998 NCAA Division II Championship.

Stewart assumed reigns in 2003 and has helped direct UC Davis to its new home in the elite field of Division I and its current competition in the Big West Conference. The Aggies' program has amassed more than 950 wins during its long history.

The 2011 Aggies are set to host Hawai'i as part of the ESPNU BracketBusters, a three-day event featuring 114 teams, 57 games and 14 conferences. After the game the alumni reunion will be held in The Pavilion on the upper east concourse from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Alumni of all ages will be in attendance with Aggie players from teams in the 1940's through 2010. The evening will also include a special recognition of alumni at halftime.

Alumni, season ticket, boosters and fans that would like to attend the postgame reception can call UC Davis Athletics Development at (530) 754-7548 for reservations. Information can also be obtained by emailing Brit McLaughlin.

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