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The 1989-90 men’s basketball team marked the beginning of a dynasty at Metro State with the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Roadrunners went 28-4 that season and won the Great Northwest Conference championship with an 8-2 mark, the first conference championship in school history. Coached by Bob Hull (Hall of Fame class of 1998), Metro State posted winning streaks of 11 and 10 games during the season. Hull went on to earn GNC Coach of the Year honors and led the team to an NCAA Tournament first round win over South Dakota.
Led by a pair of All-America teammates in Shun Tillman and Gene Edwards, Metro State was ranked as high as No. 2 during the season and finished the year ranked third in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II top-25 poll. The Roadrunners knocked off NCAA Division I opponent University of Mississippi at the Illini Classic hosted by the University of Illinois, where they made the school’s first national television appearance on WGN-TV Chicago. Two other future All-Americans, Adrian Hutt and Ralph Rivers, were also key parts of the 1989-90 team.
A number of records were set by the 1989-90 men’s basketball team. Its 28 wins were a school record at the time, though that record has since been topped by a pair of national championship teams. However, many records still stand, including Edwards’ single game record of 38 points, a record that has been tied twice. His records for points in a season and points per game still hold, as does Tillman’s record for total rebounds.
1989-90 Men's Basketball Roster
| No. Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Hometown |
| 11 Adrian Hutt |
Jr. |
G |
5-9 |
Peoria, Ill. |
| 12 Kirk Smith |
Sr. |
G |
6-2 |
Englewood, Colo. |
| 13 Gene Edwards |
Sr. |
G |
6-2 |
Colorado Springs |
| 22 Ralph Rivers |
So. |
G/F |
6-3 |
Montgomery, Ala. |
| 24 T.J. Milan |
So. |
G |
6-3 |
Chicago, Ill. |
| 30 Lewis Rhone |
Sr. |
F |
6-3 |
Denver |
| 32 Darrell Hite |
Sr. |
G |
6-4 |
Charleston, Ill. |
| 40 Fred Brown |
Sr. |
C |
6-8 |
Chicago |
| 44 Larry Kent |
So. |
F |
6-7 |
Englewood, Colo. |
| 50 Dan Kennedy |
Fr. |
C |
6-8 |
Holyoke, Colo. |
| 52 Shun Tillman |
Sr. |
F |
6-7 |
Denver |
| 54 Mike Paulsen |
Sr. |
C |
6-9 |
Seattle |
Head Coach: Bob Hull
Assistant Coach: Joe Strain
Student Assistants: Rodney Wecker, Rusty Huelle
