University of the Cumberlands Athletics

The 1985-86 men's basketball team will be remembered as one of the best in the history of the college. In that season, they achieved something that no other Cumberland team sport has been able to do: rise to the top of the national rankings and be seeded number one in the national tournament. They did it with a tenacious defense giving up only 58 points a game to the opponent's offense. The team went undefeated in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) and undefeated on their home floor in the old Gatliff Gym. They also won two regular season tournament titles. And, in the days before at large bids to the national championships, they won the KIAC tournament and the District 32 tournament to claim a spot in the national championship. This team rose to the top of the national rankings late in the regular season and held the #1 ranking until they were upset 70-68 on the road at Lincoln Memorial University in the last game of the season. In the final top 20 ranking, Cumberland finished second. But, when they won the District 32 Tournament and the nation's top ranked team was upset, Cumberland was given the top seed in the NAIA National Tournament. After a 74-40 win in the opening round over Southern Colorado, the season ended with a disappointing59-46 loss in the second round to the College of Charleston. During that magical season the 1985-86 team became one of only five Cumberland teams to win 30 or more games in a single season going 32-3. The members of this include:

Tim Clarkson; *Garrett Gregory; Fred Hamn; Art Hanson; Junie Hemphill; *John McCoy; Myron Moss; Scott Roark; Ronnie Robinson; Jeff Shoe; Scott Thomas; Quinton Worrell

Mike Baumgarten, Assistant Coach; Mike Sickafoose, Assistant Coach; *Randy Vernon, Head Coach

*Previously inducted for individual acheivements