BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Big 4 Basketball Classic is headed back to downtown Buffalo after a year hiatus.
A source tells Time Warner Cable News the event, featuring the men's basketball teams from Western New York rivals Canisius, Niagara, St. Bonaventure and UB, will be played at First Niagara Center in mid-December.
Details are still being worked out, but another source says Canisius and UB will play in one of the games, meaning Niagara and St. Bonaventure would match up in the other.
A showdown featuring the Golden Griffins and the Bulls would be the first for new Canisius coach Reggie Witherspoon against a UB program he led for 14 seasons.
Basketball games must be hosted at the arena in advance of the 2017 NCAA Men's Tournament returning to Buffalo next March.
The venue will be renamed Key Bank Center later this year.