'21 1998-99 Men's Basketball
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- Title:
- National Champions
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- Year:
- 2021
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- Position:
- National Champions
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- Team:
- Men's Basketball
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- IHCC Years:
- 1998-99
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- Career Highlights:
- NJCAA National Champions • 37-1 record • First team to ever win three consecutive NJCAA National Championships • Cory Hightower Tournament MVP • Mike Capaccio Coach of the Year
Under the tutelage of newly elevated head coach, Mike Capaccio, the 1998-99 squad capped off the millennium in spectacular fashion winning 37 of their 38 games, and topped the 100-point barrier nine times throughout the season. The team outscored their opponents by an average of 82.2 to 66.1, including an incredible 71-point victory over DMACC at the Hellyer Center in the eleventh game of the season. The 89-game win streak that spanned parts of three seasons came to an end in game 18 of the season versus Southwest Missouri State-West Plains, 81-70, but the Warriors then reeled off 20 straight victories to capture the national title. The balanced offense was led by five Warriors who averaged more than 10 points per contest: Coleman (15.6), Black (13.8), Cory Hightower (13.3), James Zimmerman (11.7) and Travis Robbins (10.4). After completing the three-peat, Barron Thelmon was honored as Small Player of the Year, and Hightower was tabbed as the national tournament most valuable player. Both Thelmon and Hightower were named to the All-Tournament Team, and Capaccio collected Coach of the Year honors.