On senior night at Hilton Coliseum, ISU men’s basketball will not only bid farewell to three players, but also to a Cyclone legend.

Former ISU player and longtime broadcaster Gary Thompson, who assumed the role of color analyst for the Cyclone Television Network in 1987, will call his final game.

“The association with the fans, players, coaches and co-workers is what I will really miss,” said Thompson in a press release. “I love people and I loved visiting with coaches and administrators from Iowa State and other schools when I was broadcasting a game. That is the real joy of this business.”

Since he started, Thompson has become the voice of ISU basketball, reaching into Iowa homes during Cyclone home games.

“Gary has taught a lot of people, including myself, an awful lot about basketball,” said Bob Helmers, executive producer of Cyclone Television Network games. “Gary takes his television work very seriously, but always finds a way to make it fun at the same time.”

Thompson was a two-sport star while a student at Iowa State, playing basketball and baseball for the Cyclones, earning All-American honors in both.

He began his broadcasting career in 1971, covering the Big Eight game of the week. He was hired by NBC in 1977 as a college basketball analyst and worked for the network until 1983.

After working for the NCAA, Thompson rejoined his alma mater permanently in 1987.

“Listening to Gary Thompson broadcast Cyclone basketball games conjures up so many wonderful memories of Big Eight and Big 12 basketball,” said ISU athletic director Bruce Van De Velde. “As Gary’s broadcasting career comes to a close, it is fitting to pause and express our appreciation and respect for the outstanding manner in which he has presented himself throughout his career.”

While broadcasting, Thompson has been on hand for many of Iowa State’s greatest games.

He covered both regular and postseason games for Iowa State, seeing everything from Lafester Rhodes’ 54-point game against Iowa to the Cyclones’ back-to-back Big 12 tournament wins.

Thompson said Iowa State’s run to the Big 12 title is one of his favorite memories.

“We had two wins at home against nationally ranked Texas and Oklahoma State,” Thompson said. “I remember Marcus Fizer’s slam dunk over Texas’ Chris Mihm to cap off that win, and we followed that game with a dominating performance against a great Oklahoma State team in the final home game.

“The team clinched their first conference title since 1945 with wins at Texas Tech and Baylor. Watching that team gel into a championship team was really special. With Fizer and [Jamaal] Tinsley taking over games, there weren’t many teams better than Iowa State that year.”

Jared Homan, Damion Staple and Dave Braet will also take the floor for the final time at Hilton, facing Missouri.

Homan has been a four-year starter for the Cyclones, while Staple has played for two seasons after transferring to Iowa State from Southeastern Illinois. Braet walked on in 2002 and has been a team member since.

Homan has started 91 of his 119 Cyclone games and will leave the school with his name firmly etched in the ISU record books.

The center from Remsen is Iowa State’s all-time blocked shots leader and is No. 20 on the school’s scoring chart. His 702 rebounds ranks ninth all-time.

Honors aside, Wednesday’s game is a must-win for Iowa State. The Cyclones are 7-7 in the Big 12 and 15-10 overall, fighting for postseason survival.

Missouri is 6-8 in the conference, and holds a victory over Iowa State already this season.