CMC75 Moments: 1966 Men's Basketball Edges Oxy in Playoff to Earn NAIA Bid
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1966 Men's Basketball: Stags 60, Occidental 59
The Claremont-Mudd men's basketball team had a breakthrough season in 1965-66, doubling its win total to 18, from only nine the year before. A strong finish to SCIAC play with close wins over Redlands and Pomona-Pitzer gave the Stags 17 wins, and put them in a tie with Occidental atop the standings, marking its first-ever SCIAC title.
It was win No. 18 that was truly memorable, though. With the regular season ending with SCIAC co-champions, there was still one more piece of unfinished business: a playoff game to determine who would go on to the NAIA Playoffs. The Stags had never been to the postseason before, and a win over Occidental would give them that chance. The task was a bit daunting, though, as the Tigers won the most recent meeting 84-58 just three weeks prior.
However, the Stags were able to come through with a down-to-the-wire win 60-59 to earn a spot in the NAIA playoffs, providing one of the most dramatic moments in the young history of the athletic department. The Stags lost in the NAIA Districts to Cal Western, but the momentum from that postseason bid would carry into 1966-67, when Claremont-Mudd would finish 23-7, 9-1 in SCIAC, clinching the outright league title with a 63-59 win over Pomona in the regular season finale.
The Stags would then win the 1967 NAIA Districts, defeating Pasadena College 2-1 in a best-of-three series, rallying for a 69-51 win in the rubber game after trailing at the half. With that win, Claremont-Mudd earned its way to the NAIA National Championships in Kansas City for the first time.
For the 1965-66 team, Bill Harmsen won his first of three straight first-team All-SCIAC honors, which would eventually earn him a spot in the CMS Hall of Fame, while Dick Barton added his first of two first-team All-SCIAC selections in a row. Pat Hagiwara would add a first-team All-SCIAC selection as a senior in 1968, earning a CMS Hall of Fame induction as well.
1965-66 Men's Basketball Roster
Head Coach: Ted Ducey
Assistant Coach: Bill Dennis
John Anderson (CMC)
John Bagby (HMC)
Dick Barton (HMC)
Dwight Bean (HMC)
Vic Bilger (HMC)
Doug Campbell (CMC)
Skip Dorn (CMC)
Jim Granger (HMC)
Pat Hagiwara (HMC)
Bill Harmsen (CMC)
Jim Howell (CMC)
Chuck Iverson (HMC)
Sandy Mackie (CMC)
Jack Munro (CMC)
Roger Nelson (CMC)
Ted Parrish (CMC)
John Reeder (CMC)
1966-67 Men's Basketball Roster
Head Coach: Ted Ducey
John Anderson (CMC)
Terry Anderson (CMC)
Dick Barton (HMC)
Dwight Bean (HMC)
Vic Bilger (HMC)
Skip Dorn (CMC)
Dan Gertner (HMC)
Pat Hagiwara (HMC)
Bill Harmsen (CMC)
Sandy Mackie (CMC)
John Reeder (CMC)
Roby Scott (CMC)