MENOMONIE (January 26, 2016) - The UW-Stout men's basketball program will mark Alumni Day by recognizing recent alumni and alumni that celebrated a conference championship 50 years ago. Alumni Day is set for Saturday, Jan. 30.
The day will be a full day of basketball, both past and present.
The annual Alumni Game will tip off at 11 a.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse, and will feature at least 12 past players. Scheduled to participate in the Alumni Game are: Jacob Nonemacher, Nathan Staidl, Jerrod Buchholtz, Mahlon Thomas, Adam Wadzinski, Eric Hostetter, Steve Pax, Erik Olson, Aaron Jenny, Josh Pax, Chris Jardine, Michael Fant and
Jarvis Ragland.
A varsity reserve game between UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
The day will also commemorate the 1965-66 Stout State University team that captured the WSUC title with a 15-1 conference record, to this day the best conference record in school history. A pre-game social will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Hall of Champions.
UW-Stout will take on UW-Eau Claire at 3 p.m. The 1965-66 team will be recognized at halftime of the game. A celebration of the 1965-66 team is scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m.
THE 1965-66 WSUC CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMThe 1965-66 Stout State University basketball team didn't sneak up on anyone.
Coming off a second place conference finish the previous year with an overall record of 15-7 - the first winning record since the 1956-57 season - the Blue Devils were a known commodity. So well known, Stout State was picked in a preseason poll as the top team in the NAIA District 14. The district was made up of all nine WSUC schools and the majority of the small private schools in Wisconsin.
The Blue Devils (it was spelled Bluedevils then) opened the season with six straight wins until dropping two of three games at the St. John's Tournament, including a 96-79 decision to the host Johnnies. St. John's was later forced to forfeit the game, giving Stout another win, finishing the season at 20-3 overall.
Stout, behind a consistent starting line up of Jerry Kissman, James Conley, Bill Ozga, Mike Thompson and Willie White, the Blue Devils rolled off seven straight wins, including a perfect 10-0 conference record and a two game lead over Oshkosh. Stout's streak was snapped when Stevens Point came into Johnson Fieldhouse and beat the Blue Devils, 70-69, in overtime, in a contest where Stout shot only 32 percent from the floor.
The Blue Devils recovered to win their next five conference games, finishing with a 15-1 conference record, the best conference record in school history and Stout's first basketball conference crown since the 1942-43 season. The Blue Devils earned the conference's bid into the NAIA District 14 tournament and were tripped up by Lakeland College in the first round.
All five starters finished the season averaging in double-digits, led by Thompson's 16.4 points. White averaged 14.2 points. Ozga, the only senior on the starting five and the team captain, averaged 13.9 points - Ozga scored 34 and 30 points in two games against Eau Claire. Kissman - who still holds the schools all-time rebounding record - averaged 10.9 points and Conley 10.7.
Towards the end of the bench was freshman Mel Coleman, who would go on to earn All-America honors, and get drafted by teams in two professional basketball leagues. Coleman played in 19 games and averaged 1.7 points.
Thompson earned first team all-WSUC honors, while Kissman and Conley were second team selections. Kissman and Thompson were named to the all-district team and coach Dwain Mintz was named the NAIA Area IV coach of the year.
Expected Roster for Alumni Game (denotes last year of competition)Jacob Nonemacher (06-07)
Nathan Staidl (09-10)
Jerrod Buchholtz (10-11)
Mahlon Thomas (10-11)
Adam Wadzinski (13-14)
Eric Hostetter (10-11)
Steve Pax (12-13)
Erik Olson (12-13)
Aaron Jenny (13-14)
Josh Pax (12-13)
Chris Jardine (10-11)
Michael Fant (09-10)
Jarvis Ragland (14-15)
Trent Thompson (11-12)
Carter Ciolkosz (11-12)
