Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University men’s basketball fans will see the past, the present and the future intersect Saturday, as the 1985-86 Bulldogs return to campus for a reunion lunch. The team will be recognized at halftime of Wingate’s South Atlantic Conference game versus Tusculum College in Cuddy Arena. Tip-off for the Bulldogs and Pioneers is slated for 4 p.m.

Bulldog fans will also touch the future in another way, as the University sponsors Wingate Elementary School Day to honor a budding partnership between the current men’s basketball team and the children at the kindergarten through fifth grade school. Wingate assistant athletic director, Athletic Foundation and Bulldog Club director Bill Nash hopes Saturday will serve as a template for future alumni gatherings.

“When (1985-86 Wingate men’s basketball) coach Steve Hudson approached us about this reunion, we were excited,” Nash says. “The University desires to engage our alumni...to give them a chance to reflect on their Wingate experience. Every alum…high school, junior college, senior college and post-graduate…brings something different to the table. The 1985-86 Bulldog men’s basketball team had a great year...one we should celebrate.”

In 1985-86, Wingate was 21-10 overall (10-6 in the Carolinas Conference and 15-7 in NAIA District 26). The Bulldogs won 20 games for the first time as a senior college. Wingate advanced to NAIA District 26 play-offs for the first time. In the post-season, Wingate defeated Pembroke State (now UNC Pembroke) 68-67 in the final men’s basketball game in Sanders Sikes Gymnasium. The Bulldogs fell 85-75 to eventual district champion Atlantic Christian College (now Barton) in the semi-finals.

Individual honors were bestowed upon three members of the 1985-86 Wingate team. Forward Derrick Knox (Charlotte, N.C.) was named to the All-Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and All-NAIA District 26 teams, while two of his teammates made all-tournament squads. Center Ed Smith (Rutherfordton, N.C.) was named to the All-CIAC tournament team, while guard James Lipscomb (Kannapolis, N.C.) was named to the All-District 26 tournament team.

Knox completed his Wingate career with 1,113 points despite missing parts of two seasons with injuries. He averaged 16.2 points per game. Smith averaged 14.9 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game in the pivot. Lipscomb also scored in double figures (11.9 points per game). The Bulldog play-maker was among the conference leaders in assists (157) and free throw percentage (79.1 percent).

The Wingate University sports information department caught up with 1985-86 head coach Steve Hudson for his thoughts. A transcript of his interview follows.

Q&A with Steve Hudson
Wingate men’s basketball coach
Four seasons (1984-88)
 
Q: Looking back, what are your thoughts about this team (characteristics, work ethic)?

A: This team was a tremendously overachieving team. We lost our leading scorer, senior Phillip Bunch, at the beginning of the season. He was replaced by incoming freshman Ed Smith, who was thrown into the fire. Ed responded by averaging in double figures as a freshman. He was the Newcomer of the Year in the Carolinas Conference. 
 
Derrick Knox had a terrific season; he was our leading scorer and even a better leader. James Lipscomb was the best point guard in the conference. James was a scorer as well…before lead guards were expected to be a scoring factor for teams. Roy Walker was solid inside and on the boards, while Marvin McKesson brought a winner’s attitude to the team as a transfer.
 
We had the best sixth man in the conference with hard-nosed Paul Stokey filling an important role. In addition, Anthony Houston provided us with instant offense. Dee Gibbs was a solid guard and Marvin Work was our best defensive perimeter player.
 
Olli Brunberg gave us a big man to counter other teams’ size, while Scott Day was a streak shooter and a very unselfish team player. Transfer Kevin Denny played his first collegiate season with the Bulldogs. Revelle Williams was lost to an injury; we missed his long-range bombs during the 1985-86 season.
 
Q: As a young coach, you utilized many cutting-edge ideas to motivate your team (slogans, music, etc.). Did you borrow ideas from a mentor? Why was this important to you? How did you know it would be successful?
 
A: I grew up watching Bob Cousy, Connie Hawkins, Pete Maravich, Calvin Murphy and many more entertainers in the game. I saw how (entertainment) added to the excitement of the sport. The NBA had always used music and halftime shows to promote their product. At a small college, I had to utilize different ideas to stimulate our program any way I could. 
 
Q: What are your highlights from the season?
               
A: (For me), the greatest highlight of the season was beating Pembroke State in the first-ever NAIA men’s basketball play-off game for Wingate. We came from behind in the last five minutes to win the last men’s game ever played at Sanders Sikes Gymnasium. 
 
Second, we won the Catawba College Civitan Classic (Thanksgiving event), upsetting the Catawba Indians 61-51 on their home court. Third, I believe our 10-6 finish in the regular season race was quite an accomplishment. 
 
Lastly, the environment at Sanders Sikes was awesome, even though it was definitely time for a new facility. Sanders Sikes was one of the best home courts on which I have had the opportunity to coach. The fans were very loud and energetic.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a comprehensive university with more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. The university offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.
 
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past five years.
 
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 42 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 51 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.
 
(Editor’s note: The Wingate University Athletic Foundation wishes to thank men’s basketball alum Todd Holden and BSN Sports for partnering with the Bulldog Club to sponsor Saturday’s luncheon. Holden is a 1990 Wingate graduate.)