Basketball changes, that is just the nature of the game. Even if the game itself does not change, because after all, the whole point is to put a leather ball in a round hoop and do it more times than the other team, things still change, and in the 1974-1975 season, things were changing more than ever, leading to some much needed changes in the way teams would be selected in the postseason, and the advent of the Conference Tournament.

The Lone Star Conference said that at the beginning of the season, there would be a 6 team single elimination tournament with a third place game. The teams that finished first and second would receieve first round byes, while teams 3-6 would battle it out in the quarters and meet up with the teams that got the first round by in the semis. Whoever won the tournament would be pledged to the NAIA to play for the District 4 Championship and have a shot at the national title via the NAIA’s national tournament.

The Lions of ET had just had their first winning season under Jim Gudger and were returning some serious firepower. The non-conference season started with some major names on the schedule such as Don Haskins’ UTEP Miners and the Western Carolina Men’s team that were perennial powers in the NAIA and also Gudger’s alma mater. In the non season slate, ET went 8-4 and looked very strong going into LSC play. The Lions had already played one LSC team in Sul Ross State and blew out the Lobos 103-79, sending a message.

LSC play started and the Lions pushed their record to 11-4 overall with wins over Tarleton, Angelo, and Abilene Christian, then came 3 straight losses as a very good Howard Payne team humbled the Lions, Angelo avenged their early season loss, and Stephen F. Austin axed the Lions in Commerce by 10. Gudger was not pleased and felt his team that lost their focus, and said as much in every media outlet that would speak to him. He was not pleased in the least that after an 11-4 start and 3-0 LSC start that his squad was now 11-7 and 3-3 in conference play. Their seeding in first LSC tournament depended on how well they would finish. It a 10 team conference, only 6 would be moving onto having a chance to play for a national tournament berth, so 4 teams would be sitting out, and the Lions were on the line at that time.

Gudger’s challenge was accepted by his team as they rolled to a 7-1 finish, their lone loss coming at the hands of the one team they just could not beat that year, the SFA Lumberjacks. None the less, the Lions finished the regular season first in the LSC regular season standings, 18-8 overall and 10-4 in the Lone Star Conference, and top seed in the LSC tournament to be hosted by Howard Payne University in Brownwood.

The Lions enjoyed their bye and fully expected to face a Southwest Texas State team they had defeated twice that year, as the Bobcats faced a Sam Houston State team with a losing overall record and had barely qualified, but the Bearkats stunned their way into the semifinals with an 80-77 win over Southwest Texas setting them up with a date with the Lions and also firing a warning shot that despite their pedestrian record, they were not to be taken lightly. It was not taken seriously by the Lions, nor anyone else in the LSC conference.

The Lions played incredibly hard and went back and forth with the Bearkats but SHSU would just not go away, and it was that inability to put the Kats away that led to overtime, and a crushing 82-80 overtime loss. The Lions were officially out of the running for a national tournament berth, but had a third place game to think about. It was still a tough pill to swallow, that an 18 win team and regular season champion would sit at home while a team with a losing record and 6th place finish would be moving onto the national playoffs.

Howard Payne would also perform an upset as they defeated Abilene Christian 83-79, sending two teams that almost nobody selected to the LSC tournament Championship game, where Sam Houston would again shock the conference by defeating Howard Payne 83-74. Sam Houston moved onto the NAIA District 4 playoffs where St. Mary’s was waiting yet again for another LSC opponent to defeat, and the Rattlers buried the Bearkats by sweeping the 2 game series and would fall in the NAIA Final 4 to Midwestern State (yes, THAT Midwestern State) 65-60. Midwestern would finish at national finalists, losing to Grand Canyon 65-54.

The Lions faced Abilene Christian for third place in the tournament knowing it meant nothing but for win # 19 and pride, but the Lions put on their best face and best foot forward and took home third place by defeating ACU 66-62, for a 19-9 season and LSC regular season championship.

The way the season ended hurt ET and Gudger, but it was all they needed to prove that even though the road was getting tougher to get back to Kansas City, the Lions would have to get tougher as well, and tougher they would get as you will see in the next Tournament tale.

1975 East Texas State Lions

Lone Star Conference Regular Season Champions