2020-21 NAIA National Champions
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Congratulations from the team at Portsmouth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine 1729 Kinneys Lane, Suite 102, Portsmouth | (740) 351-0980 | KingsDaughtersHealth.com OH-70230028 The 2020-21 Shawnee State University men’s basketball team celebrates the program’s first-ever NAIA National Championship inside Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. Different & Special nee State Bears Men Shaw ’s Basket TION ball -21 NAIA NA AL CHAMPIO 2020 NS Shawnee State University senior James Jones is mobbed Shawnee State University senior Donoven Carlisle (30) scored a by his teammates after being named the NAIA National team-high 19 points off the bench in the Bears’ National Semifinal Tournament Most Valuable Player. win over the University of Saint Francis (Ind.). SSU Coach DeLano Thomas and seniors Donoven Carlisle, E.J. Onu, and freshman Latavious Mitchell embrace after winning the program’s first-ever NAIA National Championship. A special supplement to Shawnee State University sophomore Jakiel Wells (3) shows his joy during the postgame celebration following the Bears’ 74-68 win over Lewis-Clark State in the NAIA Spring 2021 | Section S National Championship game. Shawnee State University senior E.J. Onu (35) dunks during the Bears’ 82-77 National Semifinal win over the University of Photos courtesy of SSU Office of Communications Saint Francis. 2S Wednesday, March 31, 2021 SSU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 Daily Times OH-70230047 Daily Times SSU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 3S Congrats Bears on your 2021 837 6th St. • Portsmouth, OH 45662 • 354-3124 National [email protected] www.hunterwilliamsinsurance.com Championship! OH-70230044 SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM Amier Gilmore Kobie Johnson James Jones Jakiel Wells Desmond CrosbyJr. Junior #0 Senior #1 Senior # 2 Sophomore #3 Junior #4 Tre Beard Bailey Davis Issac Abergut Shawn Paris Jr. Corie Blount Jr. Freshman #12 Senior #14 Junior #20 Sophomore #21 Freshman #22 Miles Thomas Latavious Mitchell Donoven Carlisle Markus Geldenhuys EJ Onu Senior #24 Freshman #25 Senior #30 Junior #33 Senior #35 DeLano Thomas Lindal Yarbrough Jack Trainer D’Andre Price Zack Kelly Justin Patrick Head Coach Associate Head Coach Assistant Coach Grad Assistant Video Coordinator Video Coordinator Headshots courtesy of SSU Office of Communications “You Can Find It At Barbours” Auto & Truck Parts Full Service Automotive Machine Shop Computerized Paint Matching Tools, Equipment & Supplies shop Barbourauto.com Way to go Shawnee Bears! CHILICOTHE ASHLAND PORTSMOUTH LUCASVILLE Ross Auto Parts 2805 Greenup Ave 915 11th St 10707 US Route 23 599 Douglas Ave 606-329-2227 740-354-3144 740-259-3067 740-774-4300 OH-70230045 4S Wednesday, March 31, 2021 SSU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 Daily Times OH-70230287 National Champs! Bears best Warriors to win program’s first title Courtesy of Anna Trankina, SSU Office of Communications The 2020-21 Shawnee State University men’s basketball team celebrate the program’s first-ever NAIA National By Jacob Smith for Kansas City’s Municipal Championship following their 74-68 win over Lewis-Clark State (Id.). [email protected] Auditorium with one goal in mind — one that’s been pres- KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s ent since the cancellation of the final buzzer sounded, but SSU’s inside Municipal Auditorium in pionships, and now National been a season and postseason 2020 NAIA National Tourna- historic 31-2 campaign was Kansas City (Mo.). Champions, the Bears’ season- of firsts for the 2020-21 Shaw- ment which SSU had qualified concluded with the program’s Winners of 27-straight long journey ended in celebra- nee State University men’s bas- for the first time in program first-ever NAIA National Cham- games, the program’s first tion and a net cutting ketball team. history: Win the whole thing. pionship following their 74-68 Mid-South Conference Regular The Bears left Portsmouth It wasn’t official until the win over Lewis-Clark State Season and Tournament Cham- See CHamps | 6S Thomas’ team message never changed, wavered PORTSMOUTH — For So too was his speech first-ever NAIA National fourth season at Shawnee And indeed, these Bears DeLano Thomas, just about at Wednesday night’s cel- Championship. State and with the national were different. any postgame interview ebration ceremony inside But hey, when you’ve won championship to go along And truly special. Paul or press conference — or Waller Gymnasium, in which count ‘em 27 consecutive to with his NAIA National Undoubtedly, like the Boggs even his tweets — this past Thomas and his Bears cele- end the season, why change Coach of the Year honor — 1998-99 Shawnee State Sports season was pretty much the brated their return home — — or even waver. tweeted anytime the hashtag Reporter same. after winning the program’s Thomas, completing his #BeDifferentBeSpecial. See MEssagE | 7S would like to Congratulate The Shawnee State University Men's Basketball Team on their Hardwood Heroes Congratulations Bears on the national championship! We want to thank Shawnee Awesome State and the Champions in their continued support of the Hardwood Heroes games. Season! We will see you on the court Champs! OH-70230062 OH-70230218 Daily Times SSU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 5S SSU’s Onu, Jones named NAIA All-Americans PORTSMOUTH — E.J. Onu Cleveland was first-team NAIA course of the season — State — is already ranked Fresh off a season full Capping off a splendid the only player on All-American since including each of Shaw- 18th in program history of firsts, E.J. Onu and Shawnee State tenure the roster to play his head coach, nee State’s eight postsea- in career assists. James Jones have already with a 31-2 record and and start in all 33 DeLano Thomas, son affairs. The 6-4 wing led Shaw- added to that — just an NAIA National Cham- games during the accomplished the Despite a season nee State in the following two days after winning pionship, Onu posted 2020-21 season, feat during the slightly shortened due to categories: the program’s first-ever marks that completely and — not surpris- 2003-04 season. the COVID-19 pandemic, Points scored NAIA National Champi- rewrote the individual ingly — led the Onu Only Onu, Jones still finished fourth Points per game onship. and team recordbooks at nation in blocks Thomas and Andre in program history in Assists Onu — the greatest SSU in the process. per game and total Horton (2001-02) total scoring in a single Assists per game four-year player in the Finishing with aver- blocks (150). have accomplished season — with 620 tal- Free throws made (120) history of the Shawnee ages of 12.6 points, 6.9 The 6-11 center the milestone in lies — while his 20 points Free throws attempted State men’s basketball rebounds and 4.2 blocks led Shawnee State program history. per game made the senior (150) program — became the for his career on 52.8-per- in the following from Chicago just the Free-throw percentage first two-time NAIA All- cent shooting from categories: James Jones second player in program (80-percent) American in program his- the field, Onu greatly Total blocks Wrapping up history to average 20 Field goals made (232) tory by earning first-team exceeded all of those Blocks per game Jones one of the greatest points per game. Field goals attempted All-American honors, averages during the 2020- Total rebounds individual scoring Only Horton, with (492) while Jones received his 21 season on career-best (266) campaigns in school his- his 24.1 points per bout For more information first national All-Ameri- efficiency. Rebounds per game tory, Jones proved himself during the 2001-02 cam- on SSU Bears Athletics, can status in his college For his senior sea- Three-pointers made (52) as a guy who could be paign, averaged more. visit www.ssubears.com career by earning sec- son, Onu averaged 16.9 Three-pointers attempted relied upon for a bucket In addition to his out- or visit the Twitter and ond-team All-American points, 8.1 rebounds and (130) at any point in time. standing scoring load, Facebook pages at https:// accolades, as announced 4.5 blocks while shoot- Three-point field-goal For the season, Jones Jones proved to be the twitter.com/SSUBears by national officials on ing 57.3-percent from the percentage posted a year to remem- team’s best facilitator. and https://www.face- Thursday afternoon. floor and a strong 40-per- From a career stand- ber, averaging 20 points, His 4.8 assists per con- book.com/SSUBears. With their NAIA All- cent mark from three- point, Onu ranks first 6.1 rebounds and 4.8 test and 150 total assists For more information on American statuses, the point range. all-time in program his- assists per game on out- are both fifth in program how to join the SSU Bear duo allowed the Bears He scored in double fig- tory in blocks (529) and standing efficiency him- history over a single sea- Club or for sponsorship to post two NAIA All- ures in each of Shawnee blocks per game — and self, as his 47.2-percent son. of specific SSU players or Americans for the second State’s first 30 games, and third all-time in points shooting would suggest. To put his impressive events, visit https://give- season in a row. 31 of the team’s 33 affairs (1,578) and rebounds He, like Onu, also passing totals into per- tossu.com/bear-club and That also marks a first in all. (866). scored in double figures spective, Jones — in just https://givetossu.com/ in program history. The senior from He becomes the first in 30 games over the one season at Shawnee sponsorthebears.