A&M to Honor Four Championship Teams on Saturday
Jan 04, 2001 | Men's Basketball
January 04, 2001
Texas A&M will honor its 1951, 1964, 1975 and 1976 men's basketball Southwest Conference championship teams at Saturday's Big 12 opener against Kansas State at Reed Arena as part of the annual Former Players Reunion. The teams will be recognized at halftime and honored at a reception following the game. Game time is 3 p.m.
The 1951 team was the first in school history to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The '51 Aggies finished 17-12 overall and tied for first in the Southwest Conference under coach John Floyd. The Aggies fell to Washington, 62-40, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which at that time included just 16 teams. The Aggies were ranked No. 18 nationally in the final United Press International poll and led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 44.0 points per game.
The 1951 team was led by All-Americans Jewell McDowell and Walter "Buddy" Davis, who set the world record in the high jump in winning the gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games. Several years ago, Davis was named by USA Track & Field as the top male two-sport athlete (track and any other sport) in history. Davis played five seasons for the NBA's San Francisco Warriors.
Ten members of the 1951 team are scheduled to appear: Bill Carpenter, Tom Darling, Walter Walker, Bobby Farmer, Don Garrett, Don Heft, Pat McCrory, LeRoy Miksch, Jim Ashlock and Marvin Martin.
The 1964 team won A&M's first outright SWC title in 41 years, finishing 18-7 overall and 13-1 in conference play in legendary coach Shelby Metcalf's first season at the helm. Led by All-American Bennie Lenox, the Aggies advanced to the 25-team NCAA Tournament, where they fell in the first round to Texas-El Paso, 68-62. Lenox set a school and SWC record with a national single-game high of 53 points against Wyoming in the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City. The Aggies were ranked No. 18 nationally in the final UPI poll.
Nine members of the 1964 team, along with Metcalf, are scheduled to attend: Billy Atkinson, Paul Timmins, Ken Norman, Lenox, Lynn Merritt, Bill Robinette, John Reynolds, Cecil Ferguson and Tim Timmerman.
Under Metcalf, the 1975 and 1976 teams were the first A&M squads to win consecutive SWC titles since the Aggies won four straight in 1920-23. The 1975 team finished 20-7 overall with a 12-2 mark in league play and advanced to the 32-team NCAA Tournament, where they fell in the first round to Cincinnati, 87-79. The 1976 team posted a 21-6 mark overall and were 14-2 in SWC action, but lost in the finals of the SWC Tournament to miss a second straight trip to the NCAAs.
The teams were led by the dynamic duo of Sonny Parker and Barry Davis, who each earned All-SWC honors both seasons. Parker, who was inducted into the A&M Athletic Hall of Fame last fall, was a first round draft pick of the Golden State Warriors and played six NBA Seasons, Davis was drafted by The Houston Rockets.
Three members of the 1975 and 1976 teams, in addition to coach Metcalf, are scheduled to attend: Cedric Joseph, John Thornton and Joey Robinson. Joseph still owns the school record for rebounds in a game with 23 against Angelo State in 1972-73.
For more information, contact the A&M Basketball Office at 979-845-4531.
