University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Thomas basketball to host Army in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena opener
6/25/2025 10:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
ST. PAUL, MINN. – On Wednesday, Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten announced that the University of St. Thomas men's and women's basketball programs will open their 2025-26 home schedule on Saturday, November 8, at the new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena. St. Thomas will play host to Army West Point, the alma mater of philanthropist Lee Anderson.
"We are thrilled to host Army in Tommie basketballs' first ever contests in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena," commented Esten. "These games will be a culmination of over two years of work and provide us with the opportunity to celebrate both Lee and Penny Anderson for their incredible support, and the Tommie Athletic Department as a whole. We look forward to this being a very special evening for the Anderson family and we can't wait for fans to get their first glimpse of the new era of St. Thomas basketball on November 8th."
This will be the first-ever meeting between St. Thomas and Army West Point, where Lee Anderson played both football and basketball as a young Cadet. Anderson, a graduate of Breck High School in Golden Valley, went on to compete for Army West Point as a center for the men's basketball program leading them to three consecutive National Invitational Tournaments (NIT). He achieved the rank of Cadet Sergeant and was commissioned to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers, eventually being assigned to Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. Anderson achieved the rank of Captain before returning to his home state of Minnesota.
Known across the country for his incredible philanthropic support, Anderson is widely considered one of the most philanthropic graduates in West Point history. The opening of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena will be a celebration of Anderson's support of both institutions, as the head men's basketball coaching position at Army West Point is named in his honor, The Lee Anderson Head Men's Basketball Coach. The Anderson's are also the naming donors to both the University of St. Thomas and Army West Point's Anderson Athletic Centers.
Kevin Kuwik was named Army West Point's Lee Anderson Head Men's Basketball Coach on March 29, 2023, and enters his third season in the role. The program is coming off a 17-win season which included a home record of 12-4. The Cadets were invited to participate in the Purple College Basketball Invitational following its run at the Patriot League Tournament.
"We are thrilled to open Lee & Penny Anderson Arena against Army, a renowned institution that is also Lee Anderson's alma mater," said head coach Johnny Tauer, who enters his 15th season at the helm of Tommie men's basketball. "Coach Kuwik and his team won 17 games last year and will bring an excellent team to St. Paul this season."
The Army women's basketball team recently completed one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 25-8 record while qualifying for the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Army also won its first postseason game in the DI era, defeating Bryant in the opening round of the WNIT in late March.
"This is an exciting time for Tommie basketball and St. Thomas athletics. We are thrilled to welcome Army to open Lee & Penny Anderson Arena," said head coach Ruth Sinn. At the arena opener, Sinn will be the first and only Tommie to compete in all four home arenas in St. Thomas basketball history. She was a player in the team's final season in O'Shaughnessy Hall, coached in both Schoenecker Arenas, and will now serve as the head coach in the inaugural season in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
Lee & Penny Anderson Arena will officially open on October 24, when the St. Thomas hockey programs host Providence. Season tickets for both Tommie basketball and hockey are currently on sale at www.tommiesports.com/tickets.
"We are thrilled to host Army in Tommie basketballs' first ever contests in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena," commented Esten. "These games will be a culmination of over two years of work and provide us with the opportunity to celebrate both Lee and Penny Anderson for their incredible support, and the Tommie Athletic Department as a whole. We look forward to this being a very special evening for the Anderson family and we can't wait for fans to get their first glimpse of the new era of St. Thomas basketball on November 8th."
This will be the first-ever meeting between St. Thomas and Army West Point, where Lee Anderson played both football and basketball as a young Cadet. Anderson, a graduate of Breck High School in Golden Valley, went on to compete for Army West Point as a center for the men's basketball program leading them to three consecutive National Invitational Tournaments (NIT). He achieved the rank of Cadet Sergeant and was commissioned to serve in the Army Corps of Engineers, eventually being assigned to Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. Anderson achieved the rank of Captain before returning to his home state of Minnesota.
Known across the country for his incredible philanthropic support, Anderson is widely considered one of the most philanthropic graduates in West Point history. The opening of the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena will be a celebration of Anderson's support of both institutions, as the head men's basketball coaching position at Army West Point is named in his honor, The Lee Anderson Head Men's Basketball Coach. The Anderson's are also the naming donors to both the University of St. Thomas and Army West Point's Anderson Athletic Centers.
Kevin Kuwik was named Army West Point's Lee Anderson Head Men's Basketball Coach on March 29, 2023, and enters his third season in the role. The program is coming off a 17-win season which included a home record of 12-4. The Cadets were invited to participate in the Purple College Basketball Invitational following its run at the Patriot League Tournament.
"We are thrilled to open Lee & Penny Anderson Arena against Army, a renowned institution that is also Lee Anderson's alma mater," said head coach Johnny Tauer, who enters his 15th season at the helm of Tommie men's basketball. "Coach Kuwik and his team won 17 games last year and will bring an excellent team to St. Paul this season."
The Army women's basketball team recently completed one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 25-8 record while qualifying for the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Army also won its first postseason game in the DI era, defeating Bryant in the opening round of the WNIT in late March.
"This is an exciting time for Tommie basketball and St. Thomas athletics. We are thrilled to welcome Army to open Lee & Penny Anderson Arena," said head coach Ruth Sinn. At the arena opener, Sinn will be the first and only Tommie to compete in all four home arenas in St. Thomas basketball history. She was a player in the team's final season in O'Shaughnessy Hall, coached in both Schoenecker Arenas, and will now serve as the head coach in the inaugural season in Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
Lee & Penny Anderson Arena will officially open on October 24, when the St. Thomas hockey programs host Providence. Season tickets for both Tommie basketball and hockey are currently on sale at www.tommiesports.com/tickets.
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