As the final whistle blew on Feb. 29, 1908, Iowa State basketball had earned its first with a 36-17 victory over Drake.

Over 1,100 wins and countless memorable players and seasons later, Iowa State will celebrate its 100th year of hoops this Saturday when the Cyclones host Nebraska (14-8, 3-6 Big 12) in Hilton Coliseum.

“I think it will be a special treat for our fans,” head coach Greg McDermott said of the celebration. “I know it’s sold out, so I think it will be a great crowd and enthusiastic crowd like it always is here.”

Former Cyclone great Gary Thompson – who was the first All-American in the program’s history in 1957 and later served as the TV voice of the Cyclones for 34 years – said he is excited for the large reunion of players and coaches.

“For me in particular it will be a lot of fun because I span a lot of years. I’ll know the old-timers as well as the young kids and everyone in between because of being around here as a player and then coming back and doing television,” Thompson said.

Thompson, Iowa State’s first two-sport All-American – he played baseball, too – will relish the reunion.

“To have a lot of guys from our era back – it will be a lot of fun. It’s a great time for the guys to be back and be recognized once again after being out of the game for 30 or 40 years.”

Thompson recalls one of his favorite memories from his playing days, an upset of the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks at State Gym on Jan. 14, 1957.

“In my playing days, we were the first ones to beat Wilton [‘Wilt’ Chamberlain]. That’s been the game that has been said was ‘the game’ at Iowa State,” Thompson said. “I always say it’s a tough game to duplicate because you had Kansas, which was the undefeated No. 1 team in the country with the No. 1 player of the half-century.”

Memories of that game, as well as other Cyclone basketball highlights, will be included on the commemorative DVD, “Iowa State Basketball … a Century of Memories, Moments and Magic,” which fans can purchase for $19.99 in the concourse during Saturday’s game.

From legends like Thompson, Jeff Grayer and Barry Stevens to the more recent Fred Hoiberg, Marcus Fizer and Jake Sullivan, the Cyclone basketball program has had no shortage of great players.

On Saturday, a group of approximately 130 former players and coaches will be in attendance to watch the game. At halftime, the ISU all-century team will be introduced, and following the game there will be a ceremony recognizing the 100 Years of Hoops alumni.

Freshman Craig Brackins said that, at game time, he will feel the pressure of having so many Cyclone greats in the stands.

“I’ll be a little nervous to know that they’re all watching and what they’ve done, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be proud of us whatever happens,” he said. “We’ve just got to go out there and play for them and play for the school.”

Although senior Rahshon Clark said he views the game as just another conference battle, he said Saturday’s ceremonies are a great tribute to those that have come before him and his teammates.

“To me, it’s just to pay a good deal of respect to the past players that played here and made Hilton Magic and things like that,” Clark said. “It will be a great feeling to play on this great day.”

And just in case there wasn’t enough motivation created by hosting the rival Cornhuskers, Thompson was on hand at practice Thursday to help the team get ready for the centennial celebration.

“I’m sure they want to perform well with all these guys coming back,” he said. “I even mentioned it [Thursday] in practice, I said ‘come on now, you guys have got to go out and win this game.'”