After a challenging first four years at East Texas State University, Jim Gudger had gotten the Lions back to where they had been in the previous decades. He had them winning conference championships, making the NAIA postseason, making deep runs, and winning the conference tournament championships. He had the program among the elite in the LSC, and in the entire nation in the NAIA. Every year the Lions were inching closer to a second national title in Men’s basketball.

After making a run at the Elite 8 in the previous season, Gudger’s 1978 team would be arguably the second most successful season in school history, and with the Lone Star Conference at it’s strongest in every team sport, it was time to show what a great team this was made of, 25 years in the making.

The Lions started off the season a horrible 2-4, and then went on an incredible 13-1 run, before dropping three straight LSC games to Texas A&I, Southwest Texas, and Howard Payne, perhaps the Lions toughest opponent during those years. The Yellowjackets of HPU were a serious team and a top tier LSC team, and this year would be the year where the Lions and Jackets would go back and forth, and this time, the Jackets drew first blood.

After ET’s 3 game skid, The Lions skated in a two way tie for first place in the regular season with Howard Payne, but the Jackets would get the chance to host the LSC tournament. In the quarterfinals the Lions outlasted a tough Sam Houston State team, then edged out Angelo State 68-66, setting them up with a game that would determine who would win the Lone Star Conference, The East Texas State Lions, or the Howard Payne Yellowjackets?

After being stung earlier in the year, the Lions took down Howard Payne 76-71 in the LSC championship game. It secured a spot in the NAIA playoffs for ET, and also for Howard Payne. The Lions would host the NAIA District 4 playoffs, and face off with East Texas Baptist in the first round, while Howard Payne would take on St. Mary’s. The Lions devoured East Texas Baptist, and Howard Payne knocked off St. Mary’s setting up the District 4 Championship in Commerce. History would be made, as this was the first official, “Fill The Fieldhouse Game” on March 7, 1978 in front of 4,000 fans, the Lions knocked the Jackets out once and for all 76-68, and claimed the District 4 Championship punching their ticket to Kansas City once again.

A week later, the Lions defeated Newman College 81-65 in the round of 32. In the Sweet 16, ET had a much tougher challenge against Birmingham Southern, but did just enough to defeat The Panthers 78-72. The Lions were back to where they had been the previous year, The Elite 8 against another tough team in Drury. The Lions and Panthers went back and forth for 4 full quarters, and ET held on for a 79-77 win, and for the first time in 23 years, ET was headed back to the NAIA Final Four for the third time in school history. A very good Grand Canyon Team was waiting for them.

Gudger’s team gave it their all, but the Lions fell in a hard fought 74-69 game to Grand Canyon, the eventual National Champion. The Lions also fell to Quincy in the third place game in an uninspired 87-73 loss. It was the final time that the ET Basketball team would play in Kansas City as a member of the NAIA, as changes that will be covered in the next chapter, were coming.

It was one of the best seasons in the history of the program, a 26-10 overall record, regular season conference champions, conference tournament champoins, NAIA District 4 Champions, and NAIA Final Four. It was the finest moment for one of the finest coaches in East Texas State History.

1978 East Texas Lions Basketball

Lone Star Conference Regular Season Champions

Lone Star Conference Tournament Champions

NAIA District 4 Champions

NAIA Final Four