Xavier University Athletics
1958 NIT Champions to be Honored February 10th
01.17.08 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2008
CINCINNATI - The 1958 National Invitation Tournament Champions will be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game against Saint Joseph's on Sunday, February 10. This season marks the 50th anniversary of the championship season.
The 1957-58 Musketeers became the first school from Ohio to win a national championship in basketball by winning the 1958 National Invitation Tournament. Led by first-year head coach Jim McCafferty, the Musketeers defeated Niagara, Bradley, St. Bonaventure to reach the NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden in New York. In the final, Xavier defeated rival #11 Dayton 78-74 in overtime. Sport magazine called Xavier's Cinderella run "one of the greatest upsets in basketball history". Xavier was seeded last in the tournament after losing 10 of its last 15 regular season games after starting 10-1. Four Musketeers were named to the All-Tournament Team, including MVP Hank Stein, after XU knocked off the highly-favored Flyers.
Xavier President Father Michael Graham and Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Bobinski will honor the members of the 1958 NIT Champions in attendance at halftime. Each member will be presented with a replica of the jersey the 1958 team wore and will also receive a watch with the commemorative 50th anniversary championship logo. The current Musketeers will also wear the 1958 replica uniforms during that game. The game worn jerseys will be auctioned off online at goxavier.com beginning on Monday, February 12.
Following is a list of promotional events surrounding the 1958 NIT Championship:
Tickets remain available for the both the La Salle and Saint Joseph's games and may be purchased by calling the Cintas Center Ticket Office at (513) 745-3411 or online at ticketmaster.com.
