On Saturday, January 21, Grace College welcomed back the 1991-92 men’s basketball team who won the school’s first NAIA national championship.
Players, coaches, and staff from that historic team were honored on Saturday at halftime of the Lancers’ game against Taylor at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
The 1991-92 team, under head coach Jim Kessler, won their first 13 games of the season. The Lancers went on to win Kessler’s 8th conference championship and advanced to the NAIA Division II National Championships.
The tournament, held in Stephenville, Texas, saw Grace defeat Tiffin in the opening round, Franklin in the quarterfinal and Concordia in the semifinals.
Grace faced off with Northwestern of Iowa in the national championship game, a game which went into overtime. David James and Scott Blum hit key shots in the overtime period, helping Grace to an 85-79 win and the school’s first NAIA championship.
To watch the full video of the 1992 championship game, click here.
Click here for a complete team roster.