1961: Conquering Generals

The Mississippi A&M Generals had a close call three years ago when they reached the AIAA championship game only to come up short against Detroit City College but this time around the Generals went all the way, topping Lane State in the semi-finals before having no trouble prevailing over another West Coast Athletic Association foe Rainier College in the championship game to win their first AIAA tile in any of the major team sports. It also meant the collegiate basketball tournament had seen a first-time champion crowned in four of the past five seasons.

For much of their existence the Generals were a bottom rung team, winning just a single tournament game in their first 38 years but the past decade has seen basketball take off in Jackson, MS. as the school qualified for the tournament in eight of the last ten and reached the quarterfinals twice in that span in addition to their near miss in April of 1958.

The Generals spent much of the season chasing Redwood for top spot in the rankings after an early season loss to South Atlantic Conference power Carolina Poly. As freshman forward Rich Edwards began to gain experience the Generals started to string wins together -17 in a row to be exact- including victories over ranked teams in Indiana A&M, Rainier College and Deep South Conference rival Alabama Baptist. A mix of youth and veterans jelled with Edwards and fellow frosh forward Bill Goscha complimenting a pair of players who played small roles on the first Generals team to reach the title game. They were center Mike Lyons and guard George Stevens but the leader of the club was the fifth member of the starting unit in junior guard Dave Simons. The San Antonio, TX., native spent his first two seasons as a backup but took on the leadership role in 1960-61 and led the Generals in scoring with nearly 14 points per game.

Mississippi A&M lost twice in section play but their 14-2 conference record was enough to claim their second consecutive Deep South cage crown, although it did require a 60-41 win over Noble Jones College in the regular season finale as the teams entered that contest tied for top spot. At 26-3 entering the tournament the Generals were ranked second in the nation behind WCAA champ Redwood, which was 29-2. The Mammoths were given the top seed in the West Region while the Generals had similar standing in the South. Rounding out the number one seeds were Great Lakes Association co-champions Whitney College in the Midwest Region and the always strong Carolina Poly Cardinals in the East.

As it would turn out the only number one seed that reached the semi-finals was the Generals. Redwood was knocked off by Indiana A&M in the second round, ending a season in which the Mammoths, following two straight appearances at Bigsby Garden, seemed destined to win it all. The Reapers would then fall to Lane State in the West Region final. Carolina Poly also bowed out in round two as the CC Los Angeles Coyotes feasted on the Cardinals before nipping St Blane 50-49 in the East final thanks to a last second bucket from Ralph Peck. Whitney College was humbled in the Midwest final, falling 79-41 to Rainier College which meant there would three schools from the West Coast Athletic Association in the Emeralds, Coyotes and Majestics joining Mississippi A&M in the final four.

Simons scored a game high 16 points as the Generals opened the tournament with a 55-42 victory over 8th seed and Southern Border Conference champion Abilene Baptist. Round two brought a stronger foe in defending national champion Maryland State but the Bengals were no match for Mississippi A&M and were defeated 61-52. The regional final would be Mississippi A&M's first chance to face Detroit City College since the Knights defeated the Generals in the spring of 1958 with the national title at stake. This time it was a trip to the national semi-finals that was up for grabs and number seed Mississippi A&M, led by 11 points from Simons and 10 each from seniors Stevens and Lyons, built a 13 point lead at the half and went on to down the second seeded Knights 64-55.

The semi-final game with Lane State was noted as a showdown between a pair of senior centers who were touted to be Federal Basketball League draft picks a few months later. Sam Pisani of the Emeralds was considered the best big man in the draft but he was being pursued hotly by the Generals Mike Lyons. Pisani exploded for 19 points while Lyons had just 4 but the Mississippi A&M team balanced approach, with freshman Edwards and Goscha each netting 10 points, carried the Generals to a 43-40 victory. The other semi-final was even tighter as Warren Richardson was fouled in the closing seconds while attempting a game winning shot for Rainier College over CC Los Angeles. Richardson sank both of his shots from the charity stripe and the Majestics prevailed 61-59 over the West Coast Athletic Association rivals in a game that saw top ranked pro prospect Jim Stoner score 25 points for the winners.

Stoner had a much tougher time two nights later as the Generals held him to 13 points. Mississippi A&M had a hot start and led by a dozen at the break before going on to a 56-43 victory in the title game. Simons had a game high 15 points while FBL hopeful Lyons left a good final impression on pro scouts with 9 points and 11 rebounds in his final college game.