VESTAL, N.Y. – Celebrating their legacies before transitioning to the NCAA Division I level in 2001, the Binghamton men's and women's basketball teams will take part in Throwback Games when they host longtime rival UAlbany this season. The women's team's Throwback Game against the Great Danes takes place on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. while the men's squad faces UAlbany on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6:07 p.m.
As part of the Throwback Game theme, both the Binghamton men's and women's teams will wear replica jerseys from their pre-Division I era. Binghamton competed at the NCAA Division III level up until 1998 and transitioned to the Division II level from 1998-2001.
Prior to the 1999-00 academic year, Binghamton's nickname was the Colonials – which will be printed on the Throwback Game jerseys. In 1999, the athletic department announced that its nickname would be changed to the Bearcats.
"The throwback games are a tribute to our rich history and a celebration of our journey to (NCAA) Division 1 Athletics and we want our fans to relive the glory days of the late 1990's." Deputy Director of Athletics & Chief Diversity Officer Ze Zeon said. "The highlight of each game will be donning those classic gold and green colonial jerseys. We are encouraging our loyal fans and supporters to participate in the nostalgia by joining our staff and student-athletes in wearing throwback gear in the Events Center that day."
Playing in the adjacent West Gym at the time, both the Binghamton men's and women's teams enjoyed great success in the decade before transitioning to the NCAA Division I level. The women's squad qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament four straight years (1995-98) as well as the 1999 NCAA Division II Tournament. The men, meanwhile, were coached by the legendary Dick Baldwin for most of the decade, placed first in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) East Division three times and finished 23-7 during the 1993-94 season.
In addition to the players wearing Throwback jerseys for those games, the Binghamton staff and scorer's table personnel will also be wearing throwback apparel. Fans are also encouraged to wear any apparel from the Colonial era.
Binghamton and UAlbany have been squaring off against each other since the inception of their programs. The first men's game took place during the 1948-49 season while the women's inaugural contest was held on Jan. 30, 1975.
To purchase tickets online, click
here for the Women's Throwback Game on Jan. 13 and
here for the Men's Throwback Game on Feb. 8.
