The 1957-58 Knox men’s basketball team coached by Frank Adams won a share of the Midwest Conference title and represented the conference in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
The team overcame challenges that included injuries, illness, and having leading returning scorer and All-Midwest Conference selection John Liston (Hall of Fame Class of 2010) eligible for half of the season. Coach Adams employed three different starting lineups during the campaign and Knox still posted an overall record of 17-7, including a 12-4 mark in the conference, and won a game in the national tournament.
With Liston in the initial starting lineup alongside Gordie Faubel, Dick Pierson, Bob Mason, and Jim Stowell, Knox won 10 of its first 11 games and was unbeaten in league play. The only blemish was a 58-57 setback against Dennison University on January 4, 1958. Liston’s season ended after 13 games. He averaged 21.8 points overall and 21.5 in Midwest Conference games, finishing as the second leading scorer in the league and earning first team all-conference honors.
Knox achieved a milestone during the season against Monmouth by posting a 64-60 victory at home on January 15, 1958. The win was the first against Monmouth at home since 1951. The team followed with a school record for points scored in a game with a 117-88 home triumph against Ripon on February 28, 1958 to sweep the season series.
By February, the Knox starting lineup was Faubel, Pierson, Gary Hoopes, Lanny Kiest, and Junior Brown. After enduring a stretch of three losses in four games that threatened hopes of a conference crown, the squad regrouped and won four of its last five league contests and prepared for the NCAA Tournament.
Knox defeated Gustavus Adolphus 76-65 in a Midwest Regional contest to advance to the regional championship game against South Dakota on the opponent’s home floor. South Dakota downed Knox en route to winning the national championship.
Knox placed three other players besides Liston on the 1958 All-Midwest Conference teams. Faubel was named second team all-conference after averaging 13.5 points per game in league contests, which ranked #13 among the conference’s top 30 scorers during the season. Stowell and Hoopes were honorable mention All-Midwest Conference picks after they also scored in double figures and were among the top 30 scorers. Hoopes averaged 13.1 points against conference opponents and ranked 15th in scoring while Stowell was 18th in scoring with an average of 12.7 points in Midwest Conference games.
The 17 wins by the 1957-58 men’s basketball team set a new record for victories in a season and today still ranks tied for the second-most wins in a season.
