Winston-Salem State Rams men's basketball

The Winston-Salem State Rams men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The school's team currently competes in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The school won the 1967 NCAA Division II championship. Winston-Salem State competed in Division I from the 2006–07 season to the 2009–10 season as a transitional member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC); it returned to Division II in 2010 for financial reasons.

Among its notable coaches was Clarence "Big House" Gaines (1923–2005): during his 47-year tenure at WSSU as coach, professor, and athletic director, his men's basketball team compiled a record of 828–447. Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Noted players under Gaines' era were Earl Monroe, Cleo Hill and sports commentator and columnist Stephen A. Smith.Biography Of A Legend: Clarence "Big House" Gaines, Winston-Salem State University, April 20, 2005, Accessed December 12, 2012.Richard Sandomir, ESPN's New Master of the Offensive Foul, The New York Times, July 31, 2005, Accessed December 12, 2012. Alumnus Earl Williams, an American-Israeli basketball player, played for the school.

Postseason

NCAA Division II The Rams have made the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament fourteen times. The Rams have a record of 11–16. 1966 South Regional semifinalsRegional third place OglethorpeSouth Carolina State L 66–69W 85–81 1967 Mideast Regional semifinalsRegional finalNational QuarterfinalsNational semifinalsNational Championship Baldwin–WallaceAkronLong IslandKentucky WesleyanSW Missouri State W 91–76W 88–80W 62–54W 85–73W 77–741977 South Atlantic Regional semifinalsRegional third place TowsonVirginia Union L 83–107L 93–1071984 South Atlantic Regional semifinalsRegional third place Norfolk StateRandolph–Macon L 61–70L 54–691985 South Atlantic Regional semifinalsRegional Final Virginia UnionMount St. Mary's W 44–42L 56–631986 South Atlantic Regional semifinalsRegional third place Mount St. Mary'sVirginia Union L 71–74L 77–951999 South Atlantic First roundRegional semifinalsRegional Final Elizabeth City StateWingateLander W 71–60W 66–63 OTL 46–472000 South Atlantic Regional semifinals Georgia College L 68–722001 South Atlantic Regional semifinalsRegional Final Augusta StateJohnson C. Smith W 65–48L 52–642002 South Atlantic First roundRegional semifinals WingateShaw W 90–75L 61–622005 South Atlantic First round South Carolina Upstate L 59–632011 Atlantic First round Shaw L 47–752012 Atlantic First round West Virginia Wesleyan L 54–572013 Atlantic First round Slippery Rock L 67–692023 Atlantic First round Indiana (PA) L 50–52

See also Clarence Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Awards

References

External links Team website