Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On January 11, 1957, the Drake University Bulldogs hosted the Iowa State Cyclones in the first college basketball game played at Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines. Gary “The Roland Rocket” Thompson helped lead the Cyclones past the Bulldogs 97-71 to start the historical record of one of Iowa’s most iconic venues.
As construction crews toiled to erect the massive brick structure near the Des Moines River just north of the primary downtown district following the initial cornerstone laying in 1954, Iowans prepared to flock to one of the largest event venues in the country at the time. Named to honor the World War II veterans of Polk County, the facility quickly grew into a fan favorite. 7,492 paying customers crowded into the new facility in early 1957 to see Thompson go head-to-head with Drake all-time great Red Murrell.
Thompson and Murrell didn’t disappoint in a fast-paced game. The Roland Rocket hit 16-19 shots to amass 27 total points, only to see Murrell score 28. However, Iowa State easily carried the day. Shooting a blistering 63% in the first half, the Cyclones took a 49-28 lead into halftime. John Crawford pumped in 24 points for an Iowa State team that managed to keep the Bulldogs at bay throughout the contest.
While the contest may not have proved too entertaining, the stage was set for basketball at the “Barn.” Soon, Iowans started to flock to “Vets” each spring for the Iowa boys and girls high school basketball tournaments and the annual state wrestling championships. Drake continued to host basketball at the venue until 1992. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
