1953 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1953 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri
. The 16th annual NAIA
basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The championship game would feature Southwest Missouri State University
, now Missouri State University, and Hamline University (Minn.)
(10th appearance in tournament). The Bears were coached by Bob Vanatta
. The championship game was the first time that these two teams had ever met in the tournament. The Bears would defeat the Pipers to win another national championship by the score of 79 to 71. It was the first time since 1937
and 1938
, the first two years of the tournament, that the same team would win the national championship title. (The first two tournaments were also won by a Missouri university, Central Missouri State University
.)
Playing for 3rd place was Indiana State University
and East Texas State University
, now Texas A&M University–Commerce. It was the first time that these two teams had played each other. The Sycamores defeated the Lions by a score of 74 to 71.
The 1953 tournament would be Hamline University's first, and only, 2nd place title as well as Indiana State University's first, and only, 3rd place title. Making them the first two schools to win, outright, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places in the NAIA tournament (Georgetown (Ky.) the only other school to have that honor).
It is the last year without the Coach of the Year Award. And the first tournament to feature a Nazarene University, (Pasadena (Calif.)
, now Point Loma Nazarene University). There were two games in which all-time top performances would be recorded.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The 16th annual NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The championship game would feature Southwest Missouri State University
Missouri State Bears
The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. Missouri State athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, now Missouri State University, and Hamline University (Minn.)
Hamline University
-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...
(10th appearance in tournament). The Bears were coached by Bob Vanatta
Bob Vanatta
Bob Vanatta was head basketball coach for Memphis State from 1956-62. He compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.-External links:** article from Palm Beach Post - April 26, 2007...
. The championship game was the first time that these two teams had ever met in the tournament. The Bears would defeat the Pipers to win another national championship by the score of 79 to 71. It was the first time since 1937
1937 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-3rd place game:The third place game featured the losing teams from the national semifinalist to determine 3rd and 4th places in the tournament. This game was played until 1988.-References:...
and 1938
1938 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1938 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2nd annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . This was the first tournament to expand to 32 teams...
, the first two years of the tournament, that the same team would win the national championship title. (The first two tournaments were also won by a Missouri university, Central Missouri State University
Central Missouri Mules and Jennies
The sports teams at the University of Central Missouri are known as the Mules and Jennies . They participate in the NCAA's Division II and in the MIAA Conference.Men's sports*Baseball*Basketball*Cross country*Football*Golf...
.)
Playing for 3rd place was Indiana State University
Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
The Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
and East Texas State University
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station....
, now Texas A&M University–Commerce. It was the first time that these two teams had played each other. The Sycamores defeated the Lions by a score of 74 to 71.
The 1953 tournament would be Hamline University's first, and only, 2nd place title as well as Indiana State University's first, and only, 3rd place title. Making them the first two schools to win, outright, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places in the NAIA tournament (Georgetown (Ky.) the only other school to have that honor).
It is the last year without the Coach of the Year Award. And the first tournament to feature a Nazarene University, (Pasadena (Calif.)
Point Loma Nazarene University
Point Loma Nazarene University is a Christian liberal arts college. Its main campus is located on the Point Loma oceanfront in San Diego, California. It was founded in 1902 as a Bible college by the Church of the Nazarene.-History:...
, now Point Loma Nazarene University). There were two games in which all-time top performances would be recorded.
Awards and honors
Many of the records set by the 1953 tournament have been broken, and many of the awards were established much later:- Leading Scorer Award est. 1963
- Leading Rebounder Award est. 1963
- Charles Stevenson Hustle Award est. 1958
- Coach of the Year est. 1954
- Player of the Year est. 1994
- Top single-game performances: 3rd Harold Wolfe of Findlay (Ohio) playing against Pasadena (Calif.) scored 25 field goals and 4 free throws totaling 54 points for one game. Findlay won the game.
- Top single-game performances: 22nd Pete Kinkead of Geneva (Pa.) playing against Tennessee State, scored 14 field goals and 15 free throws totaling 43 points for one game. Geneva did not win the game.
- All-time scoring leader; first appearance: James Miller, 18th, East Texas State (1953,54,55), 13 games, 103 field goals, 40 free throws, totaling 246 points, 18.9 average per game.
- All-time scoring leader; second appearance: E.C. O’Neal, 9th, Arkansas Tech (1952,53,54,55), 13 games, 122 field goals, 43 free throws, totaling 287 points, 22.1 average per game.
- All-time scoring leaders; final appearance: Lloyd Thorgaard, 10th, Hamline (Minn.) (1950,51,52,53), 15 games, 111 field goals, 61 free throws, 283 total points, 18.9 average per game; James Fritsche, 14th, Hamline (Minn.) (1950,51,52,53), 15 games, 113 field goals, 46 free throws, 272 total points, 18.1 average per game.
1953 NAIA bracket
3rd place game
The third place game featured the losing teams from the national semifinalist to determine 3rd and 4th places in the tournament. This game was played until 1988.See also
- 1953 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament1953 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1953 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 22 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 10, 1953, and ended with the championship game on March 18 in Kansas City, Missouri...
- 1953 National Invitation Tournament1953 National Invitation TournamentThe 1953 National Invitation Tournament was the 1953 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....