LORETTO, Pa. – On December 8, 1972 (50 years ago), the Maurice Stokes Athletic Center was dedicated. This season, we will honor men's and women's basketball players that had an impact on Saint Francis basketball and the Stokes Center over the course of the first 50 years of this building during each home game.
 
During the dedication of this building 50 years ago today Jack Twyman said, "I guarantee you that Maurice is looking down on us right now – and he is probably five or six inches wider in the chest as he looks down on us – and sees what we are doing here this afternoon. You sometimes wonder how a college or university achieves tradition or a sense of history. I can't help but think that – this afternoon here in this gym – we are seeing a great, big chapter in the history of Saint Francis College being written."
 
A great history has truly been written at the Maurice Stokes Athletic Center. Saint Francis will honor the records that were made in the building, the accomplishments that players had in their Saint Francis career and some of the great Hall of Fame careers that the Red Flash faithful have been able to enjoy for the last 50 years. 
 
During each men's and women's basketball home game, a player that had success in this building will be on the Game Day graphic along with a current Red Flash player to symbolize the past and the present that will be shared on social media. During the game, announcements and/or videos will be used to discuss the impact of that player.
 
The dedication of the Maurice Stokes Athletic Complex was on December 8, 1972. The first official competition was a Saint Francis wrestling match against Grove City 21 days later. The Red Flash won that match, 46-3. The first-ever men's basketball game was an 83-60 win against Saint Vincent on December 4, 1972. The two teams will meet in 2022-23 on December 8 coincidentally 50 years and four days after the inaugural game in Stokes Center. The women's basketball first-ever game in the building was a 24-23 loss to Duquesne on February 17, 1973, while the first win for the women's team in the building came two days later with a 45-31 win against Juniata.
 
The first player that will be a part of this celebration will be Jack Phelan. The men's basketball home opener against Hartford on Saturday has been dubbed as the Jack Phelan Classic in honor of his contributions to both Saint Francis as a student-athlete and to Hartford as a coach and administrator. Phelan is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at both universities. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.