April 20, 2007

BOSTON, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts will host the first men's collegiate regular season basketball game in 10 years at the TD Banknorth Garden. UMass, on the rise in the college basketball hierarchy, hosts perennial SEC power Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, November 24 at 1:00 p.m.

Tickets go on sale this Sunday, April 22 at 11 a.m. at the TD Banknorth Garden box office, by phone at 617-931-2000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Note: This game will be included in the UMass Home Season Ticket Package.

Coming off its best season in 11 years, the Minutemen shared the 2007 Atlantic-10 regular season crown and posted a 24-9 record including an NIT win over Alabama. UMass lost to West Virginia in the NIT Quarterfinals.

Kentucky finished its season with a 22-12 record and an NCAA Tournament win over Villanova before being eliminated by Kansas in the NCAA Second Round.

Coaches will provide much of the early interest in the upcoming season. 1994 Kentucky alumnus Travis Ford recently agreed to a contract extension through the 2014 -2015 season as head coach for UMass. New Wildcat coach, Billy Gillespie, accepted the coveted UK coaching assignment after a heralded career at Texas A & M and Texas El-Paso.

"The Garden is thrilled to have major college basketball return to the Garden," said President John Wentzell. "Working with UMass to bring Kentucky to Boston, where so many alumni of both schools live, has been exciting and rewarding."

Coach Ford reflected, "I have great feelings about Kentucky as my alma mater. It will be a special game when UK comes to Boston. The Wildcats always travel with a lot of supporters, and I know the UMass fans will be out in full force to show their spirit."

Since opening its doors in 1995, the Garden has hosted the Reebok Women's Classic Doubleheader 1995-98, NCAA Men's First and Second Round Men's games in 1999 and 2003, the UMass -Boston College men's game three times, 1995-97, and the NCAA Women's Final Four in 2006.

Tickets start as low as $22.50.