[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4683-S4684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE: NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I want to congratulate and commend the 
men's basketball team of my undergraduate alma mater, Birmingham-
Southern College. Birmingham-Southern won its second national title in 
6 years on the night of March 20 when it defeated Pfeiffer College of 
North Carolina 92 to 76 in the NAIA national tournament championship 
game.
  The Panthers of Birmingham-Southern rolled through the tournament 
just as they did the season, winning five games here. They ended their 
magnificent season with 32 straight wins and a 35-2 season overall, a 
school record.
  I ask unanimous consent that an article from the Birmingham Post-
Herald on the Panthers' basketball championship game be printed in the 
Record. I heartily congratulate Birmingham-Southern Coach Duane Reboul 
and all his players for their hard work, team spirit, winning attitude, 
and overall class. They are the epitome of champions.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From the Birmingham Post-Herald, Mar. 21, 1995]

              Panthers Hit Peak: NAIA Title Crowns Season

                           (By Richard Scott)

       Tulsa, OK.--It started with the lowest preseason 
     expectations in six seasons under Coach Duane Reboul.
       It ended at the highest point in six years, with a national 
     championship adding the perfect ending to a season of highs 
     for the Birmingham-Southern Panthers.
       The fifth-seeded Panthers continued their climb toward 
     their peak performance last night by reaching the pinnacie of 
     NAIA basketball, beating 11th-seeded Pfeiffer 92-76 for the 
     title.
       ``It's hard to put into words just how we feel after what 
     we've accomplished this year and what we've overcome,'' 
     senior point guard Tommy Dalley said. ``If you ever want to 
     see what the word `team' means, this is it. we've stepped up 
     to meet every challenge.''
       [[Page S4684]] Despite being picked to finish fourth in the 
     Southern States Conference preseason poll, the Panthers (35-
     2) added their second James A. Naismith national championship 
     trophy in six years to a season that saw the Panthers extend 
     the nation's longest winning streak to 32 games, set a school 
     record for victories in a single season and go undefeated in 
     14 conference games.
       But last night, the Panthers completed their seasoning ride 
     toward their peak by opening up a tight game with a 19-9 run 
     the final four minutes, 45 seconds of the game.
       The Panthers also did it with a depth and versatility that 
     has been at the foundation of their success. While forward 
     James Cason had 27 points and 10 rebounds and earned the 
     tournament most valuable player award, the Panthers also got 
     16 points and eight rebounds from forward Paul Fleming, 14 
     points off the bench from forward Eddie Walter (who sank six-
     of-seven shots), 10 each from reserve guard Chris Armstrong 
     and Dalley, and seven points and 10 rebounds from Nigel 
     Coates.
       ``Eddie Walter was everywhere with big plays, Fleming was 
     slashing to the basket and Nigel to the boards,'' Raboul 
     said. ``It was everybody. It wasn't just one player.''
       The combination of eight quality players seeing at least 11 
     minutes each proved to be too much for Pfeiffer (25-8), 
     especially down the stretch.
       BSC opened the game with its most uncertain half of the 
     tournament and trailed by four, 36-32, with 3:46 left in the 
     half.
       Despite 10 first-half turnovers, the Panthers still managed 
     to take a 45-43 lead into halftime when Walter scored on a 
     three-point play with 48.1 seconds left and hit Cason with a 
     lob for a layup with 5.4 seconds to go.
       Walter also helped BSC get off to a good start in the 
     second half with a three-point shot that put BSC up 50-45 at 
     17:28.
       Then the Panthers finally hit their first spurt. After a 
     Pfeiffer basket, Dalley got BSC going with two strong 
     assists, hitting Armstrong cutting to the basket for a layup 
     and then feeding Fleming under the basket for another layup. 
     When Marvin Graves' three-pointer rolled in and out for 
     Pfeiffer, Armstrong nailed a 24-footer from the top of the 
     key for a 57-47 lead and a Pfeiffer timeout at 13:28.
       When the Falcons cut BSC's lead to 65-60, Walter came 
     through with another big play. This time, he out-leaped a 
     taller opponent for what seemed to be an impossible rebound 
     and fed Damon Wilcox for a layup on the way down. Then he 
     rebounded a Dailey miss and put it back to put the lead back 
     at 10, 71-61, at 7:24.
       But with 5:05 left, the Falcons still trailed by just six, 
     73-67, and the Panthers needed one of those knockout punches 
     they have used to put opponents away all season.
       ``The first half was a war,'' Reboul said, ``but we had a 
     few more players than they did and I think that took its 
     toll.''
       Fleming drew the first blood, with a drive for a three-
     point play and a 75-67 lead at 4:21. Then another drive by 
     Fleming led to a 78-67 lead at 4:21.
       On Pfeiffer's next trip down the floor, Dalley came upon 
     with a loose ball and hit Walter downcourt with a long bomb. 
     Walter could have taken it in himself but he have up to Cason 
     for an uncontested dunk and BSC's largest lead, 80-67, at 
     3:49.
       ``I thought they played with great effort, great energy and 
     great enthusiasm,'' Reboul said. ``The game was tight and we 
     realized it, but one thing we've had all year long is 
     competitors.''
       The way the Panthers played during the final five minutes 
     brought back something Reboul said just minutes before the 
     game.
       ``The saddest part of all this is that it ends tonight, no 
     matter what,'' he sad. ``It's been a great season.''
       A great season that ended at the top of the peak.
       

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