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Canisius Golden Griffins
Canisius Golden Griffins
	2024–25 Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team
University	Canisius University
All-time record	1306–1266 (.508)
Head coach	Jim Christian (1st season)
Conference	MAAC
Location	Buffalo, New York
Arena	Koessler Center ; (capacity: 2,196)
Nickname	Golden Griffins
Colors	Blue and gold;
Uniforms
Home	Away ;
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
	1955, 1956
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
	1955, 1956, 1957
NCAA tournament appearances
	1955, 1956, 1957, 1996
Conference tournament champions
	1996
Conference regular season champions
	1994, 1996, 2018; America East: 1985; Little Three: 1947, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1957

For information on all Canisius University sports, see Canisius Golden Griffins

The Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team, or the Griffs, represent Canisius University in Buffalo, New York, United States.^[2] Canisius is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and play their home games at Koessler Center. ^[3] Canisius has appeared in the NCAA tournament four times, most recently in 1996. In 1955 and 1956, the Golden Griffins appeared in the NCAA tournament Elite Eight.

Golden Griffins in the ABA/NBA

Andrew Anderson, played for the Oakland Oaks, Miami Floridians and Los Angeles Stars (1967–70)
Leroy Chollet, played for the Syracuse Nationals (1949–51)
Larry Fogle, played for the New York Knicks (1975–76)
Herm Hedderick, played for the New York Knicks (1955–56)
Charles Jordan, played for Indiana Pacers (1975–76)
Mike Macaluso, played for Buffalo Braves (1973–74)
Bob MacKinnon, played for Syracuse Nationals (1949–50)
Anthony Masiello, played for the Indiana Pacers (1969–70) and later served three terms as mayor of Buffalo (1993–2005).
Al Masino, played for four teams (1952–54)
Johnny McCarthy, played for the 1963–64 NBA Champion Boston Celtics; first of just four players in NBA history to record a triple-double in their playoff debut with the other three being Nikola Jokić, LeBron James and Magic Johnson.
John Morrison, played for Denver Rockets (1967–68)
Mike Smrek ’85, played for the 1986–87 and 1987–88 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers
Mel Thurston played for the Tri-City Blackhawks 1940–42

The Griffins have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–4.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1955	First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals	Williams Villanova La Salle	W 73–60 W 73–71 L 64–99
1956	First round Regional semifinals Regional Finals	NC State Dartmouth Temple	W 79–78 ^4OT W 66–58 L 58–60
1957	First round Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	West Virginia North Carolina Lafayette	W 64–56 L 75–87 W 82–76
1996	First round	Utah	L 43–72

The Griffins have appeared in five National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 5–6.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1944	Quarterfinals	Oklahoma A&M	L 43–29
1963	Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals	Memphis Villanova Providence	W 76–67 W 61–46 L 66–81
1985	First round	Nebraska	L 66–79
1994	First round	Villanova	L 79–103
1995	First round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd-place game	Seton Hall Bradley Washington State Virginia Tech Penn State	W 83–71 W 55–53 W 99–90 L 59–71 L 62–66

The Griffins have appeared in four CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments (CIT). Their combined record is 4–4.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2013	First round Second Round Quarterfinals	Elon Youngstown State Evansville	W 69–53 W 84–82 ^OT L 83–84
2014	First round	VMI	L 100–111
2015	First round Second Round Quarterfinals	Dartmouth Bowling Green NJIT	W 87–72 W 82–59 L 73–78
2017	First round	Samford	L 74–78

The Griffins have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational. Their record is 0–1.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2018	First round	Jacksonville State	L 78–80^OT