View source for Commonwealth Classic

{{Short description|American college basketball rivalry}}
{{distinguish|Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic|Commonwealth Cup (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox sports rivalry
| wide                  = yes
| name                  = Commonwealth Classic
| image                 = 
| image_size            = 
| caption               = 
| team1                 = {{nowrap|[[Boston College Eagles]]}}
| team1logo             = 
| team2                 = {{nowrap|[[UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen|UMass Minutemen]]}}
| team2logo             = UMass Amherst athletics logo.svg
| sport                 = [[Men's basketball]]
| firstmeeting          = 1905
| mostrecent            = 2014
| nextmeeting           = 
| total                 = 47
| series                = Boston College 26-21
| largestvictory        = 
| longeststreak         = 
| longestunbeatenstreak = 
| currentstreak         = 
| currentunbeatenstreak = 
| trophy                = 
| trophy series         = 
| stadiums              =  
}}
{{OSM Location map        
| coord = {{coord|42.285|-71.718}}
| zoom = 7
| width = 295 
| height = 250
| caption = Locations of Boston College and UMass
| mark1 = Gold pog.svg
| label1 = Boston College
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|42.335|-71.17}}
| label-pos1 = left
| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = Red pog.svg
| label2 = UMass
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|42.389|-72.528}}
| label-pos2 = bottom
| label-color2 = black
}}
The '''Commonwealth Classic''', also known as '''Commonwealth Cup'''<ref>[http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/umas/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbb73-92.pdf University of Massachusetts Media Guide] ([[PDF]])</ref> or '''Governor's Cup''' (for the trophy awarded to the victor of the game),<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_basketball/articles/2006/01/04/eagles_are_at_full_throttle_vs_umass/ Boston Globe coverage of the 2006 Commonwealth Cup]</ref> is the title of a [[basketball]] [[sports rivalry|rivalry]] between [[Boston College Eagles men's basketball|Boston College]] and the [[UMass Minutemen|University of Massachusetts]]. The name refers to the [[Commonwealth of Massachusetts]], the [[New England]] state in which both universities are located. The game has been played a total of 47 times, with BC leading the series 26-21.

==History==
The first game between the two schools occurred December 8, 1905.  Since then, UMass and BC have played each other irregularly over the course of their in-state rivalry. In 1995, the basketball rivalry was officially designated as the "Commonwealth Classic" by then-Massachusetts Governor [[William Weld]] and members of the [[Massachusetts General Court]] who were among the nearly 20,000 spectators to watch the game at the new FleetCenter (now the [[TD Garden]]). It was the first college basketball game played in the new arena. The first game holds the record for college basketball attendance in New England. The series had been held annually since 1995, until Boston College suspended the series in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/4/18/2956812/boston-college-basketball-umass-schedule-2012-2013-acc-a10-news|title = Boston College Basketball Drops UMass from 2012–13 Schedule|date = 18 April 2012}}</ref>

==UMass dominance in the 1990s==
The 1990s were the best decade of UMass Minutemen Basketball as the Minutemen went to the 1996 Final Four and went 6–0 in the decade against Boston College. Their longest winning streak ever against their cross-state rivals.

==BC dominance in the 2000s==
After going 0–6 against UMass in the 90's, BC has bounced back and won the first seven games in the 2000s, going 7–0. This streak was snapped on December 12, 2007 when UMass edged BC 83–80.

==2010s==
The 2010 game, won by Boston College, was played at the [[TD Garden]] at a part of the Boston Tip-Off Classic.[https://web.archive.org/web/20101122131407/http://www.bostontipoffclassic.com/] After UMass routed Boston College 82–46 in 2011 in Chestnut Hill,<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=313250103 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125052727/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=313250103 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |title=UMass 82, Boston College 46 |work=ESPN.com |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref> BC ended the annual series in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|author=ESPNBoston.com |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/colleges/post/_/id/2281/bc-bows-out-of-mens-hoop-game-with-umass|title=BC bows out of hoop game with UMass |work=ESPN.com |date=17 April 2012|access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref> After a year hiatus, the rivalry was renewed in 2013 as a part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Boston Tip-Off. UMass won the 2013 game by a score 86–73<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400502666|title=Chaz Williams' big 2nd half leads UMass past Boston College |work=ESPN.com |access-date=2013-11-26}}</ref> and the 2014 game by a score of 71–62.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ken Powtak |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/umass-runs-away-bc-2nd-half-71-62-223444180--ncaab.html|title=UMass runs away from BC in 2nd half, 71–62 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=2014-11-16}}</ref>

==Results==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: left" width="20%"
|style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}; text-align:center;" | '''Boston College victories'''
|style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}; text-align:center;" | '''UMass victories'''
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! rowspan="2" | Date
! rowspan="2" | Location
! rowspan="2" | Winner
! colspan="2" | Score
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! width=40 | BC
! width=40 | UM
|-
|| December 8, 1905 || [[Amherst, MA]] ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 15 || '''20''' ||
|-
|| February 26, 1951 || [[Curry Hicks Cage]]<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''59''' || 43 ||
|-
|| December 10, 1951 || [[Boston Garden]]<br>[[Boston, MA]] ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''76''' || 52 || 
|-
|| December 19, 1955 || Boston Garden<br>Boston, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 73 || '''91''' || 
|-
|| January 30, 1957 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''68''' || 66 ||
|-
|| January 28, 1958 || [[Roberts Center]]<br>[[Chestnut Hill, MA]] ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''71''' || 67 ||
|-
|| February 19, 1959 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 65 || '''68''' ||
|-
|| January 28, 1960 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''74''' || 51 ||
|-
|| December 12, 1963 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||74 || '''93'''||
|-
|| February 2, 1965 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''109''' || 97 ||
|-
|| February 8, 1966 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''101''' || 80 ||
|-
|| December 3, 1966 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''86''' || 63 ||
|-
|| December 21, 1966 || Boston Garden<br>Boston, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''75''' || 67 || Boston Garden Christmas Basketball Tournament
|-
|| February 6, 1968 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''94''' || 70 ||
|-
|| February 5, 1969 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''78''' || 67 ||
|-
|| February 3, 1970 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''83''' || 76 ||
|-
|| February 9, 1971 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||77 || '''85'''||
|-
|| February 9, 1972 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''75''' || 74 ||
|-
|| February 7, 1973 || [[MassMutual Center|Springfield Civic Center]]<br>[[Springfield, MA]] ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||52 || '''76'''||
|-
|| February 6, 1974 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''78''' || 74 || Overtime
|-
|| February 5, 1975 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||71 || '''80'''||
|-
|| February 4, 1976 || Roberts Center<br>Chestnut Hill, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||70 || '''77'''||
|-
|| December 12, 1976 || Boston Garden<br>Boston, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||71 || '''94'''|| Colonial Classic Tournament
|-
|| February 2, 1977 || Curry Hicks Cage<br>Amherst, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||69 || '''85'''||
|-
|| January 27, 1978 || Boston Garden<br>Boston, MA ||style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  ||64 || '''88'''|| Colonial Classic Tournament
|-
|| January 26, 1979 || Boston Garden<br>Boston, MA ||style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''82''' || 70 || Colonial Classic Tournament
|-
|| December 29, 1990 || Springfield Civic Center<BR>Springfield, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 81 || '''83''' || Abdow's Classic
|-
|| December 9, 1995 || [[TD Garden|FleetCenter]]<br>Boston, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''#3 UMass'''  || 57 || '''65''' || 
|-
|| January 18, 1997 || FleetCenter<br>Boston, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 78 || '''90''' || 
|-
|| December 14, 1997 || FleetCenter<br>Boston, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 57 || '''65''' || 
|-
|| December 12, 1998 || [[DCU Center|Centrum Centre]]<br>[[Worcester, MA]] || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 45 || '''75''' ||
|-
|| December 4, 1999 || [[Conte Forum]]<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 67 || '''74''' ||
|-
|| December 23, 1999 || [[Bayamon, PR]] || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''83'''  || 59 || Puerto Rico Holiday Classic
|-
|| December 17, 2000 || [[Mullins Center]]<br>Amherst, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''74'''  || 65 ||
|-
|| December 8, 2001 || Conte Forum<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''#13 Boston College'''  ||'''80'''  || 78 ||
|-
|| December 7, 2002 || Mullins Center<br>Amherst, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''80'''  || 62 ||
|-
|| December 6, 2003 || Conte Forum<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''76'''  || 75 ||
|-
|| January 2, 2005 || Mullins Center<br>Amherst, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''67'''  || 48 ||
|-
|| January 3, 2006 || Conte Forum<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''#11 Boston College'''  ||'''91'''  || 62 ||
|-
|| December 2, 2006 || Mullins Center<br>Amherst, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''84'''  || 73 ||
|-
|| December 12, 2007 || Conte Forum<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 80 || '''83''' ||
|-
|| December 6, 2008 || Mullins Center<br>Amherst, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''85'''  || 81 ||
|-
|| December 23, 2009 || Conte Forum<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''79'''  || 67 ||
|-
|| December 4, 2010 || TD Garden<br>Boston, MA || style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Boston College Eagles}}" | '''Boston College'''  ||'''76'''  || 71 ||
|-
|| November 21, 2011 || Conte Forum<br>Chestnut Hill, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 46 ||''' 82''' ||
|-
|| November 10, 2013 || TD Garden<br>Boston, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 73 ||''' 86''' || Coaches vs. Cancer Tripleheader
|-
|| November 16, 2014 || TD Garden<br>Boston, MA || style="{{NCAA color cell|UMass Minutemen}}" | '''UMass'''  || 62 ||''' 71''' || Coaches vs. Cancer Tripleheader
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Boston College Eagles men's basketball navbox}}
{{UMass Minutemen basketball navbox}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry navbox}}
{{Atlantic 10 Conference rivalry navbox}}

[[Category:College basketball rivalries in the United States]]
[[Category:Boston College Eagles men's basketball]]
[[Category:Boston College Eagles women's basketball]]
[[Category:UMass Minutemen basketball]]
[[Category:UMass Minutewomen basketball]]
[[Category:History of college basketball in the United States]]