© The Kennel at the McCarthey Athletic Center saw its first game in 2004. The Zags have lost just seven regular season games here. (Photo: SWX)SPOKANE, Wash. -
It's been less than a decade since its doors opened for business, but at the McCarthey Athletic Center history somehow seems beyond its years. In its 7-plus seasons it has quickly become a fixture among college basketball's premiere venues. It's reputation as rough on opponents is well deserved.
After Thursday night's win over Oral Roberts – the Bulldogs are now 93-7 in 100 regular season games in the MAC. The last win was the latest in an impressive run that started Nov. 19, 2004. That was the night Ronny Turiaf blew the doors off the building's debut with 33 points in a 98-80 win over Portland State. And ever since, it has served as a backdrop for many of the program's most memorable moments.
- Adam Morrison's sophomore season when he hit a 3-pointer with less than a second remaining to beat San Francisco. He scored a then-career-high 28 points.
- Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes hit the shot that everyone thought Morrison was going to make. PMAC beat the Dons again, hitting a trey with :01 left on the clock.
- The 2006 win over the Washington Huskies. It's no wonder they haven't yet returned to The Kennel after seven straight defeats at the hands of the Zags.
- The 2006 date with Stanford that put Spokane even further into the national spotlight.
- Virginia.
- Wake Forest.
- The New Year's Eve game against Oklahoma State – head coach Mark Few's 300th win.
- Michigan State in 2011.
From conference battles to the beasts of the Big 10, the Bulldogs' faithful could only be so fortunate to have the next 100 live up to the first at this now famous building.
