OWENSBORO, Ky. – To ring in the New Year, Kentucky Wesleyan College Department of Athletics is proud to share its Top 10 memories from 2016.  Coming in at No. 2 on our countdown is the 50th anniversary of the 1966 men's basketball team that won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Championship, as well as the seven Panther legends that were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan College honored the National Champions by inducting them into the Kentucky Wesleyan College Hall of Fame in May.  The 16 players, three managers, and two coaches brought home the College's first-ever NCAA basketball championship.  Head Coach Guy Strong and Assistant Coach Bob Daniels led the Panthers to a 54-51 victory over Southern Illinois before a crowd of 10,319 at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Ind. on March 11, 1966.
 
The Athletic Hall of Fame also welcomed seven honorees in May.
 
Dr. Ken Ayers, coach (1980, 1983-85, 87-97)—Won three Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships 1984, 1989, 1994…two-time Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year 1984 and 1991…all-time winningest coach in any sport with 351 wins in 15 years…first softball coach 1980.

J.B. Brown (1985-88)—1988 first team basketball All-American…starter on 1987 NCAA Championship…voted to All-Century team…1988 All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection…holds career record for blocked shots with 121…14th in career points with 1,233 and ninth in career rebounds with 797.

Mason Cope (1956-57)—Two-time basketball All-American 1956, 1957 and first, first team selection in history…All-NCAA Championship team selection 1957 and All-South Region selection 1957…started in first Division II Championship game in NCAA history 1957…first NBA draftee in KWC history – St. Louis Hawks 1957.

Bob Jones, coach (1972-80)—Won 1973 NCAA Championship with a 24-6 record in his first year…1973 National Coach of the Year…coached Panthers to a No. 1 ranking for six weeks in 1974…finished second in the NCAA Midwest Region in 1974…posted an eight-year record 119-90 for a 56.9 winning percentage.

Sam L. Smith (1986-87)—1987 basketball All-American…starter on 1987 NCAA Championship team and named NCAA Most Outstanding Player…voted to All-Century team…1987 Most Outstanding Player, NCAA Great Lakes Regional…two-time All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection…scored 1,115 career points.

Cory Wade (2002-04)—Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers 2008, 2009 and the New York Yankees 2011, 2012…third in Kentucky Wesleyan career strikeouts with 177…fifth in complete games pitched with 14…eighth in career innings pitched with 180…ninth in career wins with 13.
All American Club—Founded in 1954 by a group of Owensboro citizens who decided to encourage, promote and support of all aspects of intercollegiate athletics at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
 
Be sure to check back in tomorrow to see what's next on our countdown from 2016.  Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCpanthers on Twitter and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page.