MSU Denver Athletics

Men's Basketball 1988-92

The name Ralph Rivers is synonymous with Metro State athletics.  After all, he dominated the basketball court like no other player before him.

Rivers played a starting role on teams that captured three straight Colorado Athletic Conference championships from 1990-92.  During Rivers' playing days, the Roadrunners compiled a record of 87-32 (.731), the third-best three-year stretch in history at the time of his induction.

Rivers' best season came as a junior, as he averaged 20.1 points and grabbed 6.6 rebounds per game.  The 6-foot-3 guard shot 49 percent from the floor during his junior year.

He finished his impressive career at Metro State as the all-time leader in several categories, including scoring (1,873 points), games played (118), games started (110), minutes (3,616), field goals (708) and free throws made (370).  His records in these categories have since been broken, but at the time of his induction, he remained in the top-three in points, field goals and free throws.

He gained honorable mention All-America honors by the NABC and Basketball Gazette.  For the 1991-92 season, Rivers was named Colorado Athletic Conference Player of the Year after carrying an injury-ridden and inexperienced team on his shoulders for a 16-12 record.  He was also a two-time first team All-CAC pick.