of intercollegiate basketball" and home to the first recorded basketball game played between two colleges. In 1894, then-athletic director (and student) Ray Kaighn, who had played on James Naismith's first basketball team, brought the sport to the university after Naismith devised rules for the game in December 1891. A women's program was organized the next year. On February 9, 1895, Hamline hosted the first intercollegiate basketball game in history, when the Minnesota State School of Agriculture (now the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota) defeated Hamline by a score of 9–3. The game was played in the basement of the university's old science building using Naismith's original "peach basket" rules, and featured nine players to each side. Hamline was once known for the strength of its basketball program, with the university considered to be a national power in the sport from the 1930s to the 1950s. Hamline produced a number of NBA players during this time, including Hall of Famer Vern Mikkelsen. Then-head coach Joe Hutton, Sr. (1931–1965) was once offered and turned down a chance to coach the Minneapolis Lakers. Hutton Arena, the home court for the Piper basketball and volleyball teams, was built in 1937. Originally named Norton Field House, it was renamed after Hutton. A statue of the coach is in the lobby of the building. Hamline appeared in the NAIA National Tournament 12 times from 1940 to 1960 Hamline is one of 3 schools to place 4th (1940) 3rd (1948) 2nd (1953) and 1st (1942,1949,1951). They were the first school to win three National Championships, consecutively or non-consecutively. Their NAIA tournament record is 36–10. NAIA National Champions: 1942, 1949 and 1951 NAIA runners-up: 1953 NAIA Third Place: 1948 NAIA Semifinalist: 1940 NAIA Tournament Appearances: 1940-42-43-47-48-49-50-51-52-53-57-60 NCAA Division III Semifinalist: 1977 (Finished in fourth place) NCAA Division III Quarterfinalist: 1975 NCAA Division III All-Tournament Selection: Phil Smyczek, 1977 NCAA Division III Academic All-Americans: Paul Westling, 1986; John Banovetz, 1989 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans: Liz Stock, 2011 (1st Team); Courtney Benson, 2014 (1st team); Mary-Clare Couillard (2015 third team, 2016 second team) Hamline University is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Conference championships This table displays the number of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) conference championships that have been won by Hamline sports teams. If a sport is not listed, then a championship has not been won in that competition. Hamline fields teams in