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- Title:
- Team
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- Previous College Sports Played:
- Men's Basketball
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- Induction Class:
- 2005
Bio
One of the most successful basketball teams in school history, the 1994-95 squad left its mark as only the third Morningside team to advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight post-season round of the national championship. The team gave a preview of things to come by winning its first ten games of the season.
The rugged North Central Conference schedule awaited, and Morningside dropped its first three league games. The squad rebounded by capturing 11 of its final 15 NCC games to finish 21-7 overall, and 11-7 in the NCC, just one game out of sharing a conference title in a jumbled race. Qualifying for post-season action, Morningside defeated North Dakota 92-86 in the first round, and advanced to a regional hosted by Fort Hays State. There, the team dispatched Regis 93-70 in the first round, and held off host Fort Hays State 85-82 to advance to the Elite Eight.
Morningside lost the Elite Eight contest 71-58 to Cal-Riverside in Louisville, KY to end a spectacular year. Senior R.J. Belton led the squad with a 19.3 scoring average, followed by junior Brad Barron with a 16.4 average. Other team leaders included Troy Larsen, Joel Weyand, Dan Heller, Mike Kleppe, Jason Kleis, and Todd Johnson.