Basketball was first played at Matthews Arena on November 30, 1925.
At the time, the Boston Whirlwinds, one of the city’s first professional basketball teams, took up residence in Matthews — then known as Boston — Arena. Between then and now, basketball’s taken a number of forms in the weathered building, ranging from the Celtics to high school ball to, for the last 45 years, Northeastern men’s basketball.
Northeastern basketball has had its ups and downs in Matthews. This arena has seen everything from NCAA Tournament teams to Hall of Famers to the beloved Reggie Lewis’s funeral. It’s seen triumph, heartbreak, blood, sweat, tears — you name it, it’s happened.
On Saturday, that all came to a close.
When the scoreboard struck triple zeros on Vermont’s impressive, come-from-behind 85-74 victory over Northeastern, the final buzzer symbolized not just the end of the game, but the end of an era of basketball at Matthews. With hundreds of program alumni, including the legendary Jim Calhoun, in attendance, a shorthanded Huskies team battled, but ultimately succumbed to the hot-shooting Catamounts.
On a night of bittersweet celebration, a full crowd riled up by a moving pregame ceremony inspired Northeastern, who went on a lightning-fast 8-0 run after Vermont’s graduate star guard TJ Long drilled a game-opening three. Sophomore guard Luca Soroa Schaller had a chance to widen the margin, but whiffed on a dunk after a steal netted him a fast-break opportunity. Moments later, sophomore Catamount guard Sean Blake netted a triple, keeping UVM within striking distance.
That’d be how most of the first half played out, with the Huskies stretching the lead to eight on multiple occasions before Vermont would hit back. A 9-0 run capped off by a Blake fast- break layup actually gave the ‘Mounts a 28-25 lead at the 2:20 mark, but an 8-2 spurt by the Huskies snatched back some of the momentum and gave the home side a 33-30 halftime cushion.
Northeastern carried that momentum into the second half, taking a 47-39 lead after a nice run of play spurred by two William Kermoury threes. It wouldn’t last long, though. Vermont responded, and responded with force, exploding for a 21-3 avalanche that the Huskies looked powerless to stop. Sophomore forward Gus Yalden, who hadn’t played all season, was instrumental in the run, overpowering Northeastern defenders to both score and kick out to open shooters. UVM made five threes in the run, with Yalden capping it with a three of his own at the top of the key.
Fritz hit a pair of free throws as the Huskies looked to spark a comeback, but the home side just ran out of gas. Xander Alarie and JB Frankel each had a chance to cut it to six, but their threes rolled off, and Vermont extended the lead to 70-55 when senior guard TJ Hurley put home a layup. Northeastern scrapped, but it was all window-dressing from there. Huskies sophomore guard Ryan Williams scored the final points in Matthews Arena history with an acrobatic layup, and when time expired, the board read Vermont 85, Northeastern 74.
“That was a great tribute today,” said Northeastern head coach Bill Coen. “I want to thank Matthews for all the memories… it’s been a great service to the university, to the community, to everything.”
Unfortunately for the Huskies, Saturday — which was already set to be an emotional rollercoaster as Matthews said goodbye — got even more emotional shortly before the game. Northeastern announced in a statement that star guard LA Pratt, who suffered what appeared to be a substantial injury in Tuesday’s win at Harvard, was set to miss the remainder of the season with a broken foot.
“Obviously, very disappointed for [LA],” Coen said. “I don’t think in my 20 years, there’s been a player that worked harder in the offseason… he was off to a great start, and I thought he was going to have a great year. He’s a fabulous kid, and he’ll bounce back and be even stronger.”
Soroa started in his spot, as he’s expected to do for most of the rest of the year. He looked solid, notching 15 points and six assists, even as the Huskies would’ve preferred him to be more aggressive at times.
“Luca’s got tremendous talent,” said Coen. “I think he’s going to get better and better in that role… we’re going to need him to step in and fill some huge shoes.”
The result is never meaningless, but on a day as meaningful and sentimental as Saturday, the result almost comes second. Saturday was about a celebration — of a building, of a coach, of a program, and of a school, just as much as it was about the win, lose, or draw that took place on the court.
“The beauty of team sports is that you’re part of something that’s much bigger than yourself,” said Coen. “In today’s society, we’re so hyper-focused on ourselves… to be a part of a team, you always have to balance your successes and failures with the team’s successes and failures, and you have to get outside yourself.”
“It’s not all about winning and losing, though we’re all driven for those wins. But, I think the long term effect is the love and affection and respect that you earn from your teammates and the guys that played before you and trying to set the table for the one that comes after you, and that was on full display. I’m grateful for that. I’m proud of that.”
Yes, a win would’ve been the perfect way to cap off the storied basketball history of Matthews Arena. But, as Coach Coen so poignantly illustrated, there’s more to life than wins and losses. So, on a day where Northeastern so desperately wanted to send the old barn into the sunset with one final victory, they’ll come away knowing they did everything in their power to get it, even if it just wasn’t to be.
And if that level of competitiveness doesn’t earn you the love, affection, and respect from teammates and alums alike, I’m not sure what will.
So long, Matthews Arena.
Northeastern will return to action Thursday when they travel to Princeton. WRBB will have written and Twitter coverage.