50th Anniversary of the 1st Basketball Game at Kaiser Hall
Central Connecticut played Coast Guard in the first game at Kaiser Hall on Dec. 4, 1965.
The home court of the Central Connecticut men's and women's basketball teams celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first game on Dec. 4, 2015. Housed within Harrison J. Kaiser Hall, the Blue Devils' home court opened with a win over Coast Guard on Dec. 4, 1965 and has since played host to many memorable games, including two Northeast Conference Championships won by CCSU.
Under legendary head coach Bill Detrick, the Blue Devils christened their home court with a 109-57 win over Coast Guard. CCSU's Bob Plosky scored the first points in the gym's history with a basket at the 19:30 mark of the first half. Gene Reilly, who ranks eighth all-time in scoring at CCSU with 1,597 points, led the way with 21 points in front of a then-record crowd of 3,600 fans. The Blue Devils would go on to win their first 10 home games and posted a 23-3 overall record, which included a trip to the 1966 College Division Basketball Championship tournament.
Scorebook Page From The 1st Game at Kaiser Hall
Hartford Courant Dec. 4, 1965 Game Story
Detrick, who mentored the Blue Devils for 29 seasons, coached the squad to their first Division I victory at Kaiser Hall in a 65-46 win against St. Peter's on Nov. 29, 1986. Detrick recorded many of his 468 wins on the sidelines of the court which was renamed in his honor in 1991. Detrick Gymnasium was on display for the nation to see as the Blue Devils won nationally-televised Northeast Conference men's basketball titles in 2002 and 2007 in front of raucous crowds. Numerous great players have played on the hardwood inside Kaiser Hall which is now in its 51st season of serving as the home court for the Blue Devils.
Harrison J. Kaiser Hall serves as the home of the Central Connecticut State University Athletics Department and honors one of the greatest individuals in Blue Devil history. Kaiser was the school's first basketball and football coach, and former athletics director. He coached the men's basketball team for nine seasons amassing an 83-55 record from 1934-35 to 1942-43. Kaiser also coached the football team for nine seasons compiling 31 wins and helping to build a program that began playing only four games per season and then regularly played a schedule of eight or more games.