Hall of Fame
1980 Mules Basketball Team
The 1979-80 Mules' basketball team is considered by many to be the most exciting team to watch in Mules' history. Coached by Tom Smith, now at Missouri Western, and assisted by Dale Martin, now at Missouri-Rolla, the Mules were 26-2, won the MIAA championship and were ranked number one in Division II for much of the season. Their only regular-season loss was an 80-66 setback at Southwest Missouri, which they later avenged before a Multipurpose Building-record crowd of 7,300 with a 92-84 victory. Selected to host the NCAA South Central Regional, the Mules were matched against defending NCAA champion North Alabama in the opening game. After leading for most of the game, the Mules saw their hopes for a national title end in a 98-86 overtime loss. The next night, however, the Mules won the third place game over Jacksonville State 112-91, as Bill Fennelly set the Mules' single-game scoring record with 54 points. Individually, the Mules had three NCAA statistical champions that season. Fennelly led Division II in scoring with a 30.8 average; Ray Strozier led in field goal percentage (72.8) and Grey Giovanine led the nation in free throw percentage (90.4).
