Hall of Fame
The Metropolitan State University of Denver men’s basketball program is arguably one of the most successful programs in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s basketball history. Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the RMAC boasts three men’s basketball national titles, two of which were garnered by the Roadrunners in the 1999-00 and 2001-02 seasons. Following the success of those two MSU Denver men’s basketball programs, the league has announced that both teams will join the RMAC Hall of Fame with the 2024 induction class.
Prior to the Roadrunners’ two titles, the only other men’s basketball program to claim the ultimate prize was Fort Hays State in the 1995-96 season. Led by legendary head coach Mike Dunlap, the Roadrunners went to work after falling in the national title game in the 1998-99 season. Heading into the 1999-00 campaign, MSU Denver aimed to rebuild with experience under the bright lights and did just that by rolling to a program-record 33 wins. Ultimately, the Roadrunners rolled to a 97-79 win over defending champion Kentucky Wesleyan in the title game. The title not only marked the first in program history, it also stood as the first national title for any Colorado collegiate basketball team (men’s or women’s), as the Roadrunners wrapped the year with a 33-4 overall record. DeMarcos Anzures was named the Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player.
The Roadrunners then climbed the mountain two seasons later during the 2001-02 season, once again defeating Kentucky Wesleyan, this time 80-72. MSU Denver’s path to its second national title was grueling, as the Roadrunners beat five of their six opponents by single digits throughout the NCAA Championship. Along the way, the Roadrunners caught fire and knocked off five nationally-ranked programs in their six NCAA postseason games before claiming the program’s second national title with a 29-6 overall record. Patrick Mutombo was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Elite Eight, while Luke Kendall earned the North Central Region’s Tournament MVP.
To this day, MSU Denver is the only current member of the RMAC to win a men’s basketball national title and they did so twice within the span of two seasons. The 1999-00 program was the first MSU Denver program to claim a national championship. The 2001-02 program was tabbed an underdog program that found its groove at the right moment, despite having a roster comprised of mostly underclassmen with only one senior.