1986-87 Men's Basketball Team Returns to Celebrate Initial NCAA Berth - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

1986-87 Men's Basketball Team Returns to Celebrate Initial NCAA Berth

Seventeen Members of the Team, Coaching Staff and Support Staff Reunite 20 Years After Bucknell's First-Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance

The 1986-87 Bucknell Men's Basketball Team at 20-year reunion.

Feb. 2, 2007

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The first weekend in January was a very special one in the hearts of Bison basketball fans as they were treated to a return appearance by many members of the 1986 -87 Breakin' Bison. One of the finest teams in the 112-year history of Bucknell Basketball, the 1986-87 team celebrated its 20-year anniversary with several events on campus that weekend, including the annual alumni game.

In March of 1987, the Bucknell men's basketball team captured the East Coast Conference championship, beating Lehigh 103-100 in double overtime in a classic semifinal game, and Towson State 86-74 in the title game. As a result, the Breakin'Bison captured the very first NCAA Tournament berth in program history, and drew a first round match-up with top-seeded Georgetown in Atlanta, Georgia. Although the Bison fell to the Hoyas, history had been made, paving the way for future Bucknell squads. The Bison finished 22-9 that season and became the first of what is now four Bucknell NCAA Tournament teams.

The 1986-87 team was obviously loaded with talent. Six individuals from that squad are now in the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame, and four of them made it back to campus for a portion of the weekend. Head Coach Charlie Woollum, assistant coach Tommy Thompson '60, point guard Chris Seneca '87 and shooting guard Mike Joseph '90 returned for the event, while center Mike Butts '89 and guard Ted Aceto '89 were unable to be there.

The weekend began with a private dinner for the team and the current coaching staff at Damon's Grill in Lewisburg on Friday evening. Several of the players then laced up the sneakers for the annual alumni game on Saturday afternoon (where co-captains Chris Seneca and Mark Allsteadt '87 showed they still had game!) and then enjoyed watching the current Bucknell men's and women's teams take on Navy from the McGee Room.

At halftime of the men's game all the returnees were presented with a Bucknell replica game jersey and a plaque commemorating the weekend and their tremendous accomplishment.