CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University Athletics Department is set to induct the 2001-02 men's basketball team into the Athletic Hall of Fame this Saturday, Jan. 28, in between the women's and men's doubleheader against the Warriors of Waldorf College. The announcement will be made prior to the men's contest which is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

The 2001-02 squad, then known as Mount St. Clare, was the first team in school history to qualify for a NAIA National Championship Tournament as the fourth-seeded Mounties ran the table in the Midwest Classic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. The squad upset top-seeded St. Ambrose by an 82-79 overtime final after a 45-foot bank shot dropped to send the Mounties into the MCC Championship game. The team then defeated Iowa Wesleyan, 65-64, to lock up its first ever berth in the NAIA Tournament.

Athletics Director Meg Schebler has fond memories of the special season. "This team lived out the March Madness Cinderella story. Coach Eberhart and this group of young men played with such heart, they fought and scrapped and clawed their way through the MCC Tournament. I can still see Ben Mueller hitting the shot at St. Ambrose in the semi-finals. It's such a thrill to induct these guys ten years after their magical run."

Head Coach Andy Eberhart led the squad to a 14-18 record overall and an 8-6 mark in MCC action before bowing out of the first round of the NAIA National Championships to #3-seeded Cornerstone, 92-91, in another overtime thriller. The team started the season by going 3-15, but won 11 of its final 15 games which includes the final overtime loss.

I am so happy that this team is being inducted into our hall of fame," said Associate Athletics Director, and former Head Men's Basketball Coach, Andy Eberhart. "Their season was truly a ‘Cinderella Story' that I am very proud to have been a part of it. They were a team that battled through some tough times, but continued to work hard and believe in each other. Even in the national tournament game, we were down 20 at one time and this team fought back to force overtime."

"I am very proud of this team, not only for their appearance in the national tournament, but for how hard they worked and the outstanding character in which they did it," added Eberhart. "They provided me with an experience that I will never forget and will never be able to repay."

Senior guard Andre Childs averaged 18.6 points per game for the Mounties en route to collecting All-NAIA Honorable Mention and First Team All-MCC honors. South Beloit, Ill.-native Jeremy Kiefer was also a First Team All-MCC selection after averaging 15.2 points per game.

Among those included on the 2001-02 squad are Clinton-native's Sean Hellweg, Nick Lawrence and Ryan Murphy along with Camanche-native Jarrod Haiar.

This marks the first team to be inducted into the Ashford University Athletics Hall of Fame and brings the total number of inductees to 36. The first Hall of Fame member, men's basketball player Kenneth Kelly, was inducted in 1972.

Members of the 2001-02 team will be in attendance, and the evening will conclude with a reception for all Athletics Hall of Fame members at Rastrelli's Italian Restaurant in Clinton following the basketball doubleheader.