C. Homer Bast Center

The C. Homer Bast Center, located on campus, was built in 1982 and holds 2,000 fans. C. Homer Bast, who served the College as a professor, coach, administrator and counselor for 33 years, is who the building was named after. The facility was made possible by a large gift from Nancy (’72) and John (’71) Mulheren Jr.

The Bast Center features a state-of-the-art sound system and four official scorer’s tables along with a press box above the stands. It is a fan friendly facility, with a concession stand and trophy cases around the gym to honor the past including more of the same in the mezzanine. It is also media friendly, with wireless access along with internet jacks for the purpose of radio and video streaming of all home contests.

When the Roanoke Wrestling program began in 2020, head coach Nate Yetzer and staff transformed the former weight room into one of the top wrestling practice facilities in the country at Division III. The room features three wrestling mats along with an area with conditioning equipment. New lighting was put in place along with a state-of-the-art music system.

The classic hardwood floor gives Roanoke the best surface available for basketball and is versatile and large enough to provide the College’s recreation classes a first-class facility. The arena’s seating features 2,000 electronically-controlled portable bleacher seats, including 200 VIP chair-back seats at floor level. The balcony above the bleachers is also a favorite viewing point for many spectators. The entire facility is air conditioned.

The first floor contains six team locker rooms, a fully-equipped training facility, equipment storage room, two staff locker rooms, four racquetball courts, laundry room and a large arena storage area. The second floor (balcony level) is the office level with the athletic and education department offices located here, along with two large classrooms.

Recent additions have been donated to the Bast Center. Roanoke Basketball Alum Morris Cregger ‘64 donated the brand new state-of-the-art scoreboard to the college in 2008. The scoreboard features a message board which is also used for pictures, animations, etc.

The facility was also the home of the Roanoke College volleyball team, which has hosted the 1984 and 1993 ODAC Volleyball Tournaments.

Over the years, the Bast Center has hosted 22 NCAA tournament basketball games, including the men’s NCAA South-Midwest Sectional in 1996. The latest came during the 2001 season for the men’s basketball NCAA First Round contest vs. SCAD (W 70-62). The Maroons own a 12-4 post-season home record at the Bast Center.

The women’s basketball program has hosted the ODAC Quarterfinals from 1983-93 while the men have hosted seven (1982-85, 87-88, 93). The women have compiled a 247-56 record at the Bast Center since calling it home in 1982 and have the highest win percentage (81.5%) of the three teams that play here. They have had four undefeated seasons, with the latest coming in 1996-97 (11-0). The women have the longest win-streak at the Bast Center with three undefeated seasons in a row (31-0 from 1989-92) and a 38-game win streak from 1/27/89 to 1/26/93.

The Bast Center has been the sight of seven men’s NCAA Div. III Regional basketball tournaments in 1984, ’87, ’91, ’94, ’96, ’00 and ’01. The Maroons record in the Bast Center indicates the advantage of playing at home. In 28 seasons, the men’s basketball team is 293-85, with a winning percentage of .775. Last year, they won 10 of 12 games played on the court at the Bast Center and have hosted the season-opening V-Foundation Classic, which has been held every year since 1994.