March Moments Bears of 99

Art Hains Takes Us Back

(St. Louis, MO) – It has been 21 years since Missouri State participated in the NCAA Tournament, but the Bears made their mark in March Madness during the 1999 tournament. MSU won a pair of games and reached the Sweet Sixteen. Announcer Art Hains takes us back to that historic season.

Steve Alford was coaching in his fourth and, what turned out to be his final season, at then Southwest Missouri State. It was the Bears’ NCAA first appearance since Charlie Spoonhour had left to coach at Saint Louis University (1992). Alford’s team was a pedestrian 20-10 when landing an at-large bid. They went 10-3 in the non-conference.

Spoonhour’s teams had gone dancing five times during his final seven seasons in Springfield. ‘Spoonball’ was winning, efficient basketball and with a microphone in his hand, the coach could be quite entertaining. Hains takes us back to one memorable Spoonhour line.

 

 

After three seasons under Mark Bernsen, Alford was hired. During his second season the Bears participated in the National Invitation Tournament (1997). Alford was adding talent and building a belief system at SMS and the 1999 team was poised for success.

Stars of the Sweet Sixteen Team

Danny Moore and Kevin Ault were the headliners for a deep Bears squad. The 6’10 Moore was the perfect ‘stretch 4’. He could shoot it from outside (16.5 points per game), rebound (6.1 per game) and he blocked almost three shots per game.

Ault was a former ‘Indiana Mr. Basketball’ and was a lethal threat from deep. Both players finished their Bears’ careers with over 1,500 points. Moore was a senior in 1999 and Ault was a junior. Hains takes us back and describes their abilities.

 

 

Guard William Fontleroy averaged 10.8 points and four assists.

Unexpected NCAA Success

Twelfth seeded SMS took on fifth seeded Wisconsin and true to form, Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett played a slowed down, pack it in style of basketball. The Bears outlasted the Big Ten squad 43-32. Moore and Ault recorded double-doubles to give the Bears their first NCAA Tournament win since 1987. The 6’3 Ault scored ten points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Hains says you couldn’t have predicted that rebounding performance.

 

 

Moore added 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Drilling Tennessee and Heading to New York

The Bears spanked Tennessee by 30 points and was headed to the Sweet Sixteen. 81-51 was the final while Moore scored 25 points. Ault added 14, Ken Stringer 10 and Ron Bruton 12. Hains takes us back to that game and talks about the Bears’ motion offense and the depth on that squad.

 

 

Hains the broadcaster loved announcing the games and felt honored to be able to broadcast at the highest of levels, but what he relishes is the family and fan experience.

 

 

SMS lost to Duke 78-61 despite Allen Phillips’ 16 points, Moore’s 15 and Fontleroy’s 10. Missouri State hasn’t gone dancing since. As the song goes, the Bears have had their one shining moment, but Hains believes MSU could be on the verge of better things. He has great confidence in the current coaching staff. Dana Ford has assembled a solid staff and appears to be building a talent base to rise to the upper levels of the Missouri Valley Conference.

For our entire interview with the hall-of-famer Art Hains, head to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts.

During our March Moments series we have brought you memories from Wichita State with Mike Kennedy and Southern Illinois with Mike Reis. Next up will be Bradley March Moments with Dave Snell. Other guests will include Gary Rima, Clayton Custer, Brody Deren and Homer Drew!

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