“Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the Universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are, and to make new things like them.” Those immortal words, spoken by the great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, speak of the nature of life being full of change. Nothing lasts forever, and one either moves forward or backward.

In the 1982 athletic season, East Texas State joined the NCAA Division II ranks as the Lone Star Conference. For the athletic department writ large, the move was embraced as Women’s sports were taking shape and becoming prominent, Lion football was making the move as well under the watchful eyes of the dean of the Lone Star Conference, Ernest Hawkins.

Basketball was a different story. After 6 incredibly successful seasons, Jim Gudger had made his position clear that he would stay in Commerce only one extra year as he felt a move from the NAIA to the NCAA would not benefit the University. Gudger was a huge proponent of the NAIA and felt that the spirit of college athletics was best upheld under the NAIA, not the NCAA. The University however, felt the move to DII was a way to move ET into a more prominent position and that since the rest of the conference had already made the move or was making the move, it would be the best for the entire University. Also, ET was in dire straights from a financial and enrollment standpoint. Enrollment had dropped and perhaps being a member of the NCAA would help attract new students.

After Gudger left, he was replace by Jerry Matthews. Matthews had played football and basketball at East Texas State in the 1950’s, winning a national championship in Basketball and also conference titles in football. Matthews was asked to be that man to step in and help the Lions wade into the waters of the NCAA.

Matthews first season was done on an interim basis, and this season would prove he could keep the Lions Basketball success alive, as the final 3 seasons had been difficult. Matthews regular non conference season record was not terribly impressive, in fact it was very rough at 0-8. Then once again, the Lions showed themselves to be a much better second half team than the first half. Starting with the handful of non conference games left, the Lions won 18 out of their next 18 games, putting them at .500 for the first time since the 1979 season. Most importantly, their 11-3 LSC mark put them in first place of the regular season standings and the Lions clinched their first LSC title since 1978.

With the NAIA playoffs gone and the chance to play into the NCAA tournament for the first time as the University Fieldhouse was held in Commerce, the Lions started out the tournament by taking the sting out of Howard Payne, 78-68. In the semis, the Lions avenged an earlier season loss to Stephen F. Austin by axing the Jacks, 98-87. There was only one game left to go, and it was against a tough opponent.

Angelo State had defeated the Lions earlier in the season 78-76, and the Lions returned the favor with a rematch a month later in Commerce by taking down the Rams 53-52. The Lions had a better LSC record at 11-3 compared to the Rams 12-5 record. However, the LSC tournament championship would decide which team, if either, would join the NCAA’s Field of 32.

In the Lone Star Conference championship game in front of over 4,000 fans in Commerce, Angelo State broke Lion hearts by pulling out a nail-biting 83-80 win over ET, meaning that despite the rebound of the 1984 season via a regular season championship, there would be no shot at the national title. Aside, the D2 Field only had 32 teams and basically all were at large bids, as Angelo did not receive an invite to the dance either.

Because of his outstanding first season that had the first winning season since 1979 and first conference title since 1978, Matthews was offered and accepted the role as head coach, and would lead the Lions for the next 7 seasons in a changing and evolving Lone Star Conference Basketball Scene and made their mark that would they would soon become a successful Division II Basketball program.

East Texas State Lions Basketball

1984 Lone Star Conference Champions