MEMPHIS, TN – The LeMoyne-Owen College 1975 NCAA National Championship Basketball team will receive some long-deserved and long-awaited honors on Saturday, February 6, 2010 during halftime activities of the LOC Magician game versus Rust College. Thirty-five (35) years ago, the Magician players were never able to receive the Championship rings that they had earned having won the NCAA National Championship with an ending season record of 27-5. “The LOC Alumni Association decided that we needed to honor this team for such an important achievement,” said Jesse Chatman, Director of Administrative Services at LeMoyne-Owen College and President of the LOC Alumni Association. “Coach Jerry Johnson led this team to become the first and only men’s basketball team in the State of Tennessee to ever win an NCAA National Championship. This achievement is historic, and we wanted to properly acknowledge their accomplishment,” he said.
“This team’s accomplishment further highlights the strong basketball tradition that is part of LeMoyne-Owen College’s heritage,” said Coach William Anderson, Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. “We are very pleased that the Alumni Association has taken the lead and is spearheading efforts to recognize this team for its tremendous and unparalleled achievement.” Team players included: Robert Newman (Most Valuable Player) Clint Jackson, Jerry McNeil, Larry Lewis, Willie Parr, David Phillips, Carol Richardson, Milton Stevens, Ernest Ross, Morris Atkins, and Terry Gray. The team manager was Edison Ezell.
1975 Team Accomplishments:
· Finished the season with a record of 27-5.
· 1975 NCAA Division III National Champions
· 1975 NCAA Region 3 Champions
· 1975 VSAC (Volunteer State Athletic Conference) Champions
· Captured the first NCAA Division III Basketball Championship with a 57-54 win
over Glassboro State in the finals held at Albright College
· LeMoyne-Owen College is the only HBCU to win a NCAA Division III National Championship
· One of three HBCU’s that has won an NCAA Basketball National Championship any Division
(Division 1, 2, or 3)
· Only Men’s Basketball Team in Tennessee to win an NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
(Division 1, 2, or 3)
· Robert Newman was the MVP of the National Championship Game and made the VSAC All
Tournament Team
· Clint Jackson made All Tournament Team for the NCAA Division 3 Championship and made
the VSAC All Tournament Team
· Willie Parr made the VSAC All Tournament Team
The LeMoyne-Owen Magicians captured the first National Collegiate Division III
Basketball Championship with a 57-54 win over Glassboro State in the finals held at Albright College. Wittenberg's sticky defense tested the champions a bit in the quarterfinals, but LeMoyne-Owen came away with a 68-65 win. LeMoyne-Owen earned its shot at the title with an 87-71 victory over Augustana of Illinois.