April 8

From Hoopedia

1893 - Geneva College (Pennsylvania) defeats the New Brighton YMCA team, 3-0, in what is widely cited as the first basketball game involving a college team. Recent evidence suggests, however, that Vanderbilt played a game two month earlier, on February 7.

• 1940 - Above: Hall of Fame Boston Celtic John Havlicek, who averaged 20.8 points, 4.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game over a 16 year NBA career, is born in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.

• 1978 - The Buffalo Braves play their final home game in Buffalo, losing to the Knicks, 118-107. The franchise moves to San Diego and changes its name to Clippers. The Clippers will later move to Los Angeles.

• 1989 - FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, votes to drop restrictions on professional basketball players competing in international events such as the Olympics. This action paves the way for the USA to assemble the Dream Team for the 1992 Olympics.

• 1996 - Charlotte beats Chicago, 98-97, to snap the Bulls’ NBA record 44-game home winning streak (over two seasons) as well as snapping the Bulls’ NBA record 37 consecutive home game winning streak to start a season. Three night earlier in Charlotte the Hornets lost to the Bulls by 34 points.

• 2006 - Denver Nuggets star Julius Hodge is shot after leaving a nightclub and comes within minutes of bleeding to death.