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Springfield Civic Center

The MassMutual Center (originally known as the Springfield Civic Center) is an alternate arena used by the UMass Minutemen basketball team. It is located in the nearby city of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Fast Facts

  • Status: Alternate home arena
  • Opened: 1972
  • First UMass game: January 30, 1973
  • Former venue name: Springfield Civic Center

History

UMass has been a frequent visitor to the building since its opening in 1972, as the Springfield Civic Center. In 8 seasons (1972-73 through 1979-80), UMass played there 24 times, going 13-11. After a 4-season hiatus, UMass took up residency for the entire 1984-85 season, as the Curry Hicks Cage went through renovations, going 7-5.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, UMass played in several “holiday classic” games, then took another hiatus, this time for 5 seasons. After a few scattered games in the early 2000s, UMass has played thru the building's upgrades and name change to the MassMutual Center. The 2010s saw UMass play seven games organized by the nearby Basketball Hall of Fame.

Memorable Games

  • 1/17/1974 - Providence (#7) escapes with a 77-76 win, as Massachusetts nearly won their first game against a Top 10 opponent.
  • 1/17/1976 - Jack Leaman and the Minutemen defeat Hawaii, 80-72. Former Massachusetts player Rick Pitino serves as an assistant coach for Hawaii.
  • 1/6/1977 - UMass and Duquesne score a combined 207 points, as the Minutemen win 110-97.
  • 3/10/1977 - UMass defeats Seton Hall, 86-85, to advance in the NIT.
  • 1/25/1978 - UMass again narrowly misses a chance to beat a Top 10 team, also against Providence (#9), 50-49.
  • 1/4/1992 - UMass gets their second win over a ranked team, in a 86-73 victory over Oklahoma (#14).
  • 1/7/1993 - Cincinnati's Nick Van Exel scores 27 as the 16th-ranked Bearcats defeat the 22nd-ranked Minutemen, 64-53.
  • 11/25/1994 - Lou Roe takes over and leads the #3 Minutemen over defending national champ and #1-ranked Arkansas, 104-80.
  • 11/27/2001 - The future looks bright for new UMass coach Steve Lappas, as the Minutemen beat Oregon 62-58. Lappas starts his tenure 3-0 with the win.
  • 12/7/2013 - UMass and BYU light up the scoreboard in the Minutemen's 105-96 win.

Game Record

DateOpponentGame ResultsNotes
1/30/1973Holy CrossW 78-71
2/7/1973Boston CollegeW 76-52
1/17/1974ProvidenceL 77-76Providence #7
11/29/1974DartmouthW 86-59Hall of Fame Tournament
11/30/1974UNC-CharlotteL 85-57Hall of Fame Tournament
1/11/1975DuquesneW 98-94
11/28/1975OhioW 95-82Hall of Fame Tournament
11/29/1975NiagaraW 92-81Hall of Fame Tournament
1/14/1976VillanovaL 87-82
1/17/1976HawaiiW 80-72Rick Pitino an assistant coach for Hawaii.
2/26/1976ProvidenceW 81-79 (OT)
3/4/1976ConnecticutL 73-69ECAC Tournament
3/6/1976Holy CrossL 88-75ECAC Tournament
11/26/1976West VirginiaL 89-77Hall of Fame Tournament
11/27/1976HarvardW 69-50Hall of Fame Tournament
1/6/1977DuquesneW 110-97
1/29/1977ConnecticutW 65-64
2/10/1977RutgersW 82-81
3/10/1977Seton HallW 86-85NIT First Round (Round of 16)
1/7/1978RutgersL 78-74
1/25/1978ProvidenceL 50-49Providence #9
1/10/1979VillanovaL 66-51
1/31/1979RutgersL 60-55
1/2/1980ProvidenceL 78-68
11/26/1984StonehillW 71-69
12/11/1984Boston UniversityL 71-70
12/15/1984NortheasternW 67-66
1/3/1985DuquesneL 59-53
1/5/1985RutgersW 83-72
1/17/1985St. Joseph'sW 89-80
1/19/1985St. BonaventureW 69-53
1/31/1985Penn StateL 71-65 (OT)
2/2/1985Rhode IslandW 76-75
2/16/1985George WashingtonW 63-55
2/21/1985West VirginiaL 76-74 (OT)
2/23/1985TempleL 50-48
1/10/1987West VirginiaL 75-64
12/29/1987American Int'lW 78-65Springfield Classic
12/30/1987Winston SalemL 66-64Springfield Classic
1/12/1989TempleL 89-68Springfield Classic
12/28/1990DartmouthW 80-66Abdow's Holiday Classic
12/29/1990Boston CollegeW 83-81Abdow's Holiday Classic
12/27/1991HarvardW 98-63Abdow's Holiday Classic
12/28/1991Iowa StateW 73-53Abdow's Holiday Classic
1/4/1992OklahomaW 86-73Oklahoma #14
12/28/1992Holy CrossW 81-66Abdow's Holiday Classic
12/29/1992South CarolinaW 84-66Abdow's Holiday Classic
1/7/1993CincinnatiL 64-53Cincinnati #16, UMass #22
12/28/1993HartfordW 91-62Abdow's Holiday Classic. UMass #9.
12/29/1993MarylandW 94-80Abdow's Holiday Classic. UMass #9.
11/25/1994ArkansasW 104-80Starter Tip-Off Classic. Arkansas #1, UMass #3.
1/3/1995West VirginiaW 95-65Abdow's Holiday Classic. UMass #4.
1/20/2001DuquesneW 80-69
11/27/2001OregonW 62-58
12/21/2002LafayetteL 54-52
11/25/2005Alabama-BirminghamL 86-77Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic
1/10/2009DaytonW 75-62
1/10/2010La SalleL 80-74
11/20/2010New Mexico StateW 71-57Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament
11/22/2010Texas Christian (TCU)W 67-48Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament
1/15/2011La SalleW 74-71
12/9/2011SienaW 82-78Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. Considered neutral site game.
12/15/2012ElonW 78-73 (OT)Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. Considered neutral site game.
12/7/2013Brigham Young (BYU)W 105-96Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. Considered neutral site game. UMass #21.
12/7/2014Florida Gulf CoastL 84-75Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. Considered neutral site game.
12/5/2015MississippiL 74-64Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase. Considered neutral site game.

Cumulative record: 41-25 (.621)

springfield_civic_center.txt · Last modified: 2017/10/23 13:38 by mikeuma

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