Bio

The 1996-97 men's basketball team finished the season with an impressive 23-5 overall record – the 13th best record in the nation that year. Eastern Nazarene's 23 wins still stands as the program's highest single-season victory total.

The Crusaders compiled a 12-1 mark in conference play and secured the top spot in the CCC south division. Eastern Nazarene advanced to the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship game for the third time in five years before falling to Wentworth in the CCC finals.

Eastern Nazarene went on to earn a berth in the ECAC Tournament and defeated UMass-Boston to claim the school's first-ever and only ECAC crown. Dave Hepburn was named the ECAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Dave Hepburn and Luke Sheets both earned All-CCC first team honors while Jay Hepburn collected All-CCC second team accolades. Head coach Mark Fleming was voted the CCC Coach of the Year in 1996-97.

Team Members: Jeff Bretsch, Brian Deschaine, Brad Gray, Dave Hepburn, Jay Hepburn, Greg Jalosznski, Jeff Jones, Matt Lantier, Scott Madden, Steve Miller, Mike Santoro, Dave Scott, Luke Sheets, Matt Smith, Jeremy Taylor, Matt Taylor, Head Coach Mark Fleming, Assistant Coach Bob Keuther, Assistant Coach Paul Ragland