Hall of Fame
The 2001-02 men’s basketball team won Metro State’s second national championship in a three-year span, compiling a record of 29-6, including 16-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. A relatively young team, which had a starting lineup containing just one senior, the Roadrunners entered the postseason as underdogs after finishing second in the RMAC during the regular season and being eliminated in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament.
However, Metro State caught fire at the right time, knocking off five straight nationally ranked opponents en route to the national title, topping No. 1-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan 80-72 in the national championship game behind junior Patrick Mutombo’s 29 points and senior Lee Bethea’s 19. Sophomore Lester Strong posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds and junior Clayton Smith dished out 12 assists to lead the team to victory. Mutombo was named Elite Eight Most Valuable Player and went on to earn second team All-America honors after being chosen the RMAC Player of the Year. Head coach Mike Dunlap was named NABC National Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.
Joining Mutombo on the RMAC awards list were Luke Kendall, who was a first team All-East Division selection, and Bethea, who was on the division’s second team. Kendall carried the Roadrunners through the regional tournament, winning North Central Region Tournament MVP.
Strong’s .633 field goal percentage during the 2001-02 campaign remains a Metro State single season record to this day.
2001-02 Men's Basketball Roster
|
No. Name |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Hometown |
|
4 Joe Kelly |
Sr. |
G |
6-2 |
Santa Rosa, Calif. |
|
10 Lee Bethea |
Sr. |
G |
6-3 |
Stockton, Calif. |
|
12 Luke Kendall |
So. |
G |
6-4 |
Melbourne, Australia |
|
14 O.J. Thomas |
Sr. |
G |
5-9 |
Oxnard, Calif. |
|
15 Patrick Mutombo |
Jr. |
G/F |
6-5 |
Liege, Belgium |
|
20 Mark Worthington |
Fr. |
G/F |
6-9 |
Australind, Western Australia |
|
21 Mike Buggs |
Sr. |
F |
6-4 |
Oakland, Calif. |
|
32 Chris Ford |
Sr. |
G |
6-2 |
Arvada, Colo. |
|
33 Daniel George |
So. |
F |
6-10 |
Brisbane, Australia |
|
42 Ryon Nickle |
Fr. |
G/F |
6-6 |
Littleton, Colo. |
|
44 Lester Strong |
So. |
F |
6-7 |
Denver |
|
52 Ben Ortner |
Fr. |
F/C |
6-9 |
Innsbruck, Austria |
|
55 Clayton Smith |
Jr. |
G |
5-8 |
Seattle, Wash. |
Head Coach: Mike Dunlap
Assistant Coaches: Derrick Clark, Tim Harrison, Mick Alcock
