1983 Basketball Team Set to Enter Hall of Fame

EUGENE, Ore.  - The Northwest Christian University Athletic Department and Alumni Association are honored to announce the selection of the 1983 Men's Basketball team to the NCU Athletic Hall of Fame for 2009. In the third year for the Hall, Northwest Christian honors the first team to win a National Bible College Athletic Association national championship.

The 1983 team went 24-5, won the Pacific Northwest Conference championship and earned an at-large bid and the #2 seed in the national tournament. The Crusaders cruised into the championship game with 20-point victories in the first two rounds, and then defeated St. Paul Bible College with a 61-52 victory.

Athletic Director Corey Anderson said, "While the men's basketball program has won eight national championships, the 1983 team was the team that set the bar for the others to follow. Winning with great character has long been a tradition associated with the Crusader and Beacon basketball program. This was established early in it's history, much in part to the success of this 1983 team."

Members of the team include 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee Jon Willis, who earned MVP honors at the national tournament and was a NBCAA All-American in 1983. Willis becomes the first two-time honoree in the Athletic Hall of Fame. Willis was joined on the 82-83 team by his brother Joe Willis. Both men had also played together at Marist High School. Also on the team was South Eugene HS graduate Mark Fisk and Sheldon HS alumnus Dan Oleson.

Other members of the team were Keith Potter, who was named to the NBCAA All-Tournament Team, Bruce Shelby, John Tastad, Jeff Jenkins, and Tony Carvey.

The Crusaders were led that season by legendary head coach Dave Lipp, who was assisted by Barry Bokn and 2007 Hall of Fame Inductee Mike Petersen. Team chaplain Don Kennedy was also an integral part of the leadership.

The 1983 Men's Basketball team joins 2008 inductees Chuck Katter and Jon Willis, along with 2007 inductees Mike Peterson, Duane Cox, and Dr. William Richardson.

The Hall of Fame Weekend festivities will begin with the induction ceremony at 6:30 pm Friday evening, October 16^th in the banquet room on the campus of Northwest Christian University. The 43^st annual Alumni Basketball Game takes place on Saturday, October 17^th at 1:00 pm.

Tickets to the induction ceremony and banquet may be purchased by visiting http://www.GoBEACONS.com and following the Hall of Fame link.