They may have talked to some players before we were able to tune in but I only heard Les. I'm guessing they may have talked to Christian. That would have been cool and very deserved for him.
900 was the official capacity but I remember the place being packing with standing room only. I think the Fire Marshall wasn't such a big deal back then as it is now.
I only remember Lien playing in Hickey but I could be wrong.
I heard that game on KDVS and I do remember thinking how unfair it was that it was effectively a home game for UNLV. I don't remember the score being that close, though and wonder if we were a lot further behind most of the game.
Lien was after my time, 1978-79 and I think Hickey was still the venue back then, but I don't know when the Rec Hall was opened. I think I saw my first game there in 1980. I don't know how many seats Hickey held, but my rough guess would be 1100. There were 7 rows of bleachers on all four sides and you could squeeze about 50 per row on the long sides and maybe 25 at the ends.
I wish kdvs would resume broadcasting football and basketball games. The broadcast coincided with the live action. 1140 has a several minute delay which makes it worthless if you’re at the event and want to listen to the play by play on the radio.
i was complaining about UCI announcer on the TV broadcast and Scott Marsh scolded me for not listening to the radio broadcast. same issue. i know i can pause the TV until they catch up, but that works only as long as the TV doesn't lag.....which is ALWAYS does on ESPN+.
The rec hall opened in 77-78 my last year before graduating. Also, played many pickup games there before the team moved to the rec hall in 79-80. I remember a lot of great crowds and games in Hickey.
One of the best scorers in Aggien history was Mark Olson sweet perimeter shooter. I loved shooting in Hickey though. Seemed every shot went in. Soft touch led to nice rolls in the hoop. I loved shooting therr. But, played in the rec hall too, and it was close to Hickey, but the rims were a little firmer.
And a guard named Austin Thomas was quite a cool player too. I remember a shot between 3 defenders
to score a game winning bucket. And he was about 6'1 and the three defenders were all much taller. I could not believe he got the shot off. I know he remembers that shot.
Both Olson and Thomas are in the UCD Hall of Fame. Mark Olson was in the dorm the same time as I was and I got to know him a little. Even played some 2-on-2 against him and won, although I wasn't guarding him.
Hickey ROCKED as a venue. They also did closed circuit (B&W) TV down into the "women's gym" for overflow toward the end of the season. Mike Lien played in Hickey. Gyms had real character then. The Stanford gym with that suspended floor was memorable - you could watch it move! I gather shin splints weren't an issue there.